Beliefs and practices of Iranian pregnant mothers regarding vitamins and minerals

The objective of this descriptive study was to examine the vitamin and mineral supplements safety beliefs and practices of Iranian pregnant women. Data were collected from 400 randomly chosen women. More than 50% of the participants believed that taking vitamins and minerals during pregnancy was safe; 87% reported taking iron during pregnancy; of which 71.7% reported their doctor as the main recommender; 21.8% reported first trimester as the most beneficial time for iron supplementation, 13.0% second trimester and 3.0% third trimester. Although an appropriate intake of vitamins and minerals can assure health in pregnancy, excess can be harmful. Educational programmes for women of childbearing age are necessary

Serological ELISA test [IgM and IgG] for prospective study of cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection in pregnant women

Cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection is associated with significant maternal and fetal consequences. The aim of present study was to determine the current prenatal CMV seroprevalence in Eastern Azerbaijan and evaluate the routine laboratory diagnostic techniques of anti-CMV immunoglobulin M [IgM] and immunoglobulin G [IgG]. During the present prospective cross-sectional study, 125 women referred to No.1 Laboratory of Specialized Clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and seeking prenatal care were evaluated during 2003-2006. CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were determined with ELISA techniques. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package version 13.0. Eight four percent of the subjects were seropositive. Out of 20 subjects with primary seronegativity, 12 [9.6%] remind seronegative during reexaminations and follow up, but eight [6.4%] subjects showed primary infection in the second to third trimesters of gestation. In two [1.6%] of these eight subjects, IgM was persisted for more than 20 months. Results showed a similar seroprevalence of CMV in Eastern Azerbaijan. Also, we found that ELISA IgM test was not an appropriate method for differentiation of past or recent CMV infections especially in the pregnant women

Evaluation of the appropriateness of hospital stay in gynecological wards in Tabriz Teaching Hospitals

The increasing demand for health care services together with the increasing cost of providing them supports the need for a reconsideration of the existing structures. This study evaluated the appropriateness of hospital stay in gynecological wards. This is a descriptive-analytic study which was conducted in 2006-2007 by using modified appropriateness evaluation protocol. The average duration of hospital stay for 402 patients was 55.18 +/- 45.03 hours. The length of hospital stay was inappropriate in 61.2%.The main reasons for unnecessary stay before surgery included: no prior outpatient preparation of patients for operation, inadequate diagnostic procedures and the problems resulting from urgent admission [OR=2.91, CI=1. 53-5.28, OR=1.56, CI=1.10-2.99 and OR=1.01, CI=0.08-2.58 respectively].The most important factors for inappropriate stay after surgery included: patient's home-hospital distance and delayed physician's order for discharge [OR=4.18, CI=2.57-13.20 and OR=2.06, CI=1.02-4.43]. Inappropriate hospital stay was 61.2%, and it could be decreased to 28.10% by using appropriate approaches

[Evaluation of thyroid dysfunction in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum]

Recent studies indicate a relationship between beta - hCG and thyroid dysfunction. The aim of this study were evaluation of thyroid dysfunction in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, evaluation of severity of hyperthyroidism, relation between beta - hCG and hyperemesis gravidarum and outcomes of patients. Material and 135 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum admitted to Ob- Gyn hospital were selected and based on exclusion criteria, 103 pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum without any history of anti thyroid drugs consumption or other diseases were chosen. Each woman was examined for clinical signs of thyroid disease and underwent investigations for urine keton Na, k, liver function test, thyroid function test and diluted beta -hCG. 35 women had abnormal thyroid function tests with FT[4]I 4.74 +/- 0.54 and this in another group of 68 women was 2.9 +/- 0.39 [P<0.0001]. beta -hCG in the first group was 59406 +/- 14800 mU/mL and in the second was 6750 +/- 3476 mU/mL [P<0.0001]. In 5 patients PTU was started due to the severe signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid function tests [TFTS] were rechecked for other patients after 4 weeks routine therapy for hyperemesis gravidarum TFTS normalized in 11 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, but were abnormal in 22 patients, and PTU was started and anti-TPO anti-body was measured, which was positive in 3. Monthly TFT's were done and PTU was adjusted. Mean therapy was 2.76 months and 60.63 mg/d for Anti-TPO negative and 5.33 months and 170 mg/d for Anti-TPO positive patients. One month after delivery, thyroid function test was performed. PTU was continued in Anti-TPO positive patients but was discontinued in Anti-TPO negative during pregnancy with normal [TFTS] in all of the subjects following delivery. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in women with hyperemesis gravidarum was 35% of whom 20% needed low dose anti-thyroid theraphy of short duration, which resulted in significant improvement. A female predominance among offspring of mothers with hyperemesis gravidarum was seen, smilar to findings of other studies