Congenital malformations in newborns of consanguineous and non-consanguineous parents

To find out the pattern of different congenital malformation [CM] and to compare the proportion of congenital malformations between consanguineous and non-consanguineous parents. This observational study was done in Countess of Dufferin Fund Hospital, [CDF] Hyderabad from July 2006 to June 2008. All newborns with congenital anomaly at birth were included. Complete examination of the newborn after birth and relevant investigations were done. Babies with malformations whose parents were consanguineous were compared with babies having CM whose parents were non-consanguineous. Maternal age, parity, singletons, multiple births, still births and neonatal death were also recorded. Overall prevalence of congenital malformations was 15.7 / 1000 births. Central nervous system anomalies were the commonest [51%]. Congenital malformations in the newborns of consanguineous parents were significantly higher than in the newborns of non-consanguineous parents. Still births and neonatal deaths were commoner in the newborns of consanguineous parents. The results of this study show that parental consanguinity is associated with increased congenital malformations; neural tube defect is the most common anomaly seen

Diurnal influence to the onset of preterm Delivery

To analyse the onset of uterine contractions and preterm delivery in order to document any diurnal influence. Hospital records of the patients admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labor were retrieved from January 2003 to February 2007 from Sobhraj Maternity Hospital, Karachi. Time of onset of uterine contractions establishment of preterm labor parity and gender of the baby was noted. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 10 for descriptive and inferential statistics. During the study period, 632 preterm deliveries were recorded. Precise timing of onset of uterine contractions was available in 340 [38.33%] deliveries. Uterine contraction leading to labor started from 2:00AM to 5:00AM and 397 babies delivered during the night / early morning [8:00 PM to 8:00 AM] and 235 babies were delivered during day [8:00AM to 8:00PM] [chi2 = 7.908; p= 0.004]. Among all babies delivered during night / early morning 311 [49.2%] were born between 2:00AM to 8:00AM. Preterm labours demonstrate diurnal rhythm. In most of the women, contractions started between 2:00AM - 5:00AM and most of the deliveries occurred from 2:00AM - 8:00AM