ABSTRACT
Vasoconstriction during anxiety reduces fetal oxygenation and leads to hypoxia. Hypoxia in turn results in increase of the number of nucleated red blood cells [NRBCs] in the cord blood. The present study aimed to assess the effect of decreasing maternal anxiety on fetal oxygenation and NRBCs count in the cord blood. In this study, 150 women were randomly divided into two intervention groups [supportive care and acupressure in BL32 [bladder] acupoint] and a control group [hospital routine care]. The infants' cord blood was investigated regarding the number of NRBCs and the intensity of hypoxia after birth. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software [v. 16] and analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis. The significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the number of NRBCs counted in the peripheral blood smear [P<0.001]. Besides, a significant relationship was observed between the length of the first and second stages of labor and the number of NRBCs in the cord blood [P=0.01]. Also, a significant association was observed between the type of delivery and the number of NRBCs in the cord blood in both intervention [P<0.001] and control groups [P=0.03]. Doula supportive care and acupressure at BL32 point reduced the length of labor stages as well as the anxiety level. Also, nucleated red blood cells were less in the 2 groups of intervention than in control group. Regarding the fact that nucleated red blood cells cannot be the only factor for hypoxia predicting, for affirmation of this theory study with higher sample size and survey of mothers at high risk are needed
ABSTRACT
Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] have twice the risk for metabolic syndrome as compared to women from the general population. Mothers and sisters of affected women also have an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in fathers of patient with PCOS. 34 fathers of PCOS patients were evaluated. The control group was 34 fathers of normal women. The data were obtained from the clinical history and personal interview with the patients, the controls and their fathers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2009. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was determined according to Adult Treatment Panel index III [ATPIII] and International Diabetes Federation [IDF] criteria. Also incidence of hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance test, insulin resistance and diabetes type II were considered in both groups. According to ATOIII and IDF criteria, the prevalence of metabolic disorders was 29.35% and 41.17 in the fathers of the PCOS patients and 8.85% and 11.76% in the fathers of the control group respectively [p<0.008 and p<0.007, respectively]. Also incidence of hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance test was significantly higher in fathers of the PCOS patients that control groups [p<0.05]. Our findings indicate that the fathers of women with PCOS have higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and higher risk of developing hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes