ABSTRACT
Background: Preterm delivery is a major obstetric related problem in Bangladesh. Micronutrient deficiency especially deficiency of copper may affect pregnancy, delivery and outcome of pregnancy. Reduced serum copper concentration of the pregnant mother may have some role in resulting preterm delivery. Objectives: To observe serum Cu and protein status in preterm mother and their neonates. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, between January and December 2009. A total number of 136 subjects were included in this study, and were divided into control (n=82) and study (n=54) groups. Of the control group, 28 were non pregnant women age ranged between 20-30 years, taken for reference value and another 54 were full term group, also treated as control, were sub-divided into normal full term mother (n=27) and their respective neonates ( n=27). Another 54 were preterm group, considered as study group, were sub-divided into preterm mothers (n=27) and their respective neonates (n=27). Age of preterm and full term mothers were between 20-40 years. All the subjects belonged to lower socioeconomic status. The pregnant women were selected from the labor ward of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital and non pregnant women were from personal contact. Serum copper level was estimated by spectrophotometric method, to observe its level in these groups of study subjects. Serum total protein, albumin and globulin levels were estimated by usual laboratory technique in order to observe the availability of binding proteins as well as their nutritional status. Again, anthropometric data and blood hemoglobin level of the preterm and full term mother and birth weight of their respective neonates were measured to observe their nutritional status. Correlation of maternal serum copper concentration with that of neonatal blood and also with birth weight of the neonates were done to observe their relationship. Statistical analysis was done by Independent-Samples ‘t” test and Peaeson’s correlation coefficient tests as applicable. Results: Mean serum Cu, total protein and albumin levels were significantly (p<0.001) lower in preterm mother and their neonates in comparison to those of full term mother and their neonates respectively. Whereas, mean serum globulin level showed no statistically significant difference among the groups. Mean birth weight of preterm neonates was significantly lower in comparison to that of full term neonates. Again, maternal serum copper level showed negative correlation with that of neonatal blood but positive correlation with birth weight of their neonates in both full term and preterm mother, though these relationships were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The present study revealed hypocupremia and hypoproteinemia in pre-term delivery mother and their neonates. This hypocupremia may be due to poor maternal protein status.
ABSTRACT
Background: A few data are available on the effects of pregnancy on pulmonary function in different countries. But no such established data are available in our country. So we designed this study in our population. Objectives: To observe the forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and ratio of forced expiratory volume in first second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%) in different trimesters of normal pregnant women and to compare them with those of healthy non-pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This observational and analytical study was carried out in the department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College during July 2004 to June 2005. Total 100 women aged from 25 to 35 years without any recent history of respiratory tract diseases were selected as study population. Among them, 75 normal pregnant women were taken as experimental and 25 healthy non-pregnant women were taken as control groups. The experimental group included 25 pregnant women in first trimester, 25 in second trimester and 25 in third trimester. Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), ratio of percentage of forced expiratory volume in first second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%) were measured in pregnant and non-pregnant control women. The FEV1 and FEV1/FVC% were measured by using an ‘automatic spirometer’. Statistical analyses were done by unpaired Student’s ‘t’ test between the study groups and p value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The mean ± SD of measured values of FEV1 were 2.41 ± 0.87, 2.28 ± 0.59, 2.15 ± 0.74 and 1.89 ± 0.76 liters in non-pregnant women and in pregnant women during first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. The mean ± SD of measured values of FEV1/FVC% were 75.22 ± 16.77, 74.86 ± 11.06, 74.42 ± 17.43 and 71.81 ± 15.87% in nonpregnant women and in pregnant women during first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. Conclusion: The FEV1 and FEV1/FVC% were significantly lower in third trimester pregnant women than that of non-pregnant and first trimester of pregnant women and FEV1/FVC% gradually decreased from first to third trimester of pregnant women.
ABSTRACT
Background: Preterm delivery is a very challenging obstetric complication in Bangladesh. Reduced serum zinc (Zn) concentration of the pregnant mother may have some role in causing preterm delivery. Objectives: To measure serum zinc level in preterm delivery mother and their respective neonates to observe their status. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, during the period of 1st January to 31st December 2009. A total 136 subjects were included in this study, of whom 27 were full term delivery mother with their respective neonates (group B), treated as control group and another 27 were preterm delivery mothers with their respective neonates (group C), treated as study group. Age ranged of preterm and full term mother were from 20-40 years. Again, 28 non pregnant women with age range from 20-30 years were taken as reference value (groupa A). Statistical analysis was done by using appropriate method as applicable. Results: Mean serum zinc level was significantly (p<0.001) lower in preterm mother in comparison to that of full term mother and also in preterm neonates than that of full term neonates. Serum total protein and albumin were significantly (p<0.001) lower in preterm mother than those of full term mother and also in preterm neonates than those of their respective mothers and full term neonates. Again, maternal serum zinc level showed positive correlation with birth weight of neonates and also with zinc concentration of neonatal blood. Conclusions: The present study revealed a lower level of serum zinc in pre-term delivery mother and their neonates. These hypozincemia may be responsible for low birth weight of the fetus.