Effectiveness of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root in pregnancy-related diseases: A review / 中西医结合学报

The root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, also called Huangqin, is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. In ancient China, S. baicalensis root was used to clear heat, protect the fetus, and avoid a miscarriage for thousands of years. In modern times, pregnancy-related diseases can seriously affect maternal and fetal health, but few systematic studies have explored the mechanisms and potential targets of S. baicalensis root in the treatment of pregnancy-related diseases. Flavonoids (baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A) and flavonoid glycosides (baicalin and wogonoside) are the main chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis. This study presents the current understanding of the major chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis, focusing on their traditional uses, potential therapeutic effects and ethnopharmacological relevance to pregnancy-related disorders. The mechanisms, potential targets and experimental models of S. baicalensis root for ameliorating pregnancy-related diseases, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and gestational diabetes mellitus, are highlighted.

Progesterona para prevenção do parto prematuro / Progesterone for prevention of preterm delivery

Esta revisão, baseada em evidências, pretendeu analisar a utilização da progesterona na prevenção do parto prematuro. Foram apresentados os principais ensaios clínicos randomizados em gestações únicas ou gemelares que utilizaram a progesterona sintética por via intramuscular ou a progesterona natural pela via vaginal ou oral em gestações de risco para a prematuridade espontânea. Concluímos que há benefícios quanto ao uso da progesterona sintética e natural para prevenir o parto prematuro em gestações únicas com antecedente de prematuridade espontânea e no colo curto.

This review, based on evidence, aimed to examine the use of progesterone to preventing premature labor and presented the major randomized clinical trials in singleton or twin gestations using the synthetic progesterone by intramuscular and natural progesterone by vaginal or oral in high risk pregnancies for spontaneous prematurity. We concluded that there are benefits about the use of the synthetic progesterone and natural progesterone to prevent premature labor in single pregnancies with a history of spontaneous prematurity and in short cervix.

Corticosteróides na aceleração da maturidade fetal: evidências atuais / Corticosteroids in fetal maturity acceleration: update evidences

A síndrome da dificuldade respiratória neonatal é grave complicação da prematuridade. Em 1969, Liggins constatou que a maturação do pulmão fetal estava acelerada nos fetos de cordeiros infundidos com corticosteróides. Liggins, em 1972, realizou estudo controlado e randomizado que comprovou a eficácia da terapia antenatal com corticosteróide em reduzir a incidência da síndrome de dificuldade respiratória neonatal (SDR), em seres humanos. Liggins e outros autores demonstraram que esta redução estava presente nos recém-nascidos entre 48 horas e sete dias após o tratamento, o que poderia, conseqüentemente, traduzir benefício em repetir-se a dose do corticosteróide antenatal nas mulheres que permanecem em risco de parto pré-termo por mais de sete dias após o ciclo inicial. Desde a década de 80, os estudos em animais e em seres humanos levantam polêmicas sobre o uso de doses repetidas, em função dos potenciais efeitos adversos para a prole. Hoje, a avaliação da evidência na eficácia da terapia antenatal com corticosteróide permite concluir que todas as gestantes em risco de parto pré-termo, entre 24 e 34 semanas, são candidatas potenciais a receberem um único ciclo de corticosteróide. Não há prova suficiente para avaliar o uso de doses repetidas de corticosteróide nas mulheres que permanecem em risco de parto pré-termo por mais de sete dias após a primeira dose.

The neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is a serious complication of prematurity. In 1969, Liggins showed that fetal lung maturation was sped up in the embryos of lambs infused with corticosteroids. In 1972, Liggins carried out a controlled and radomized study that proved the effectiveness of the antenatal therapy with corticosteroid in reducing the incidence of the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS), in human beings. Liggins and other authors had demonstrated that this reduction was present in newborns within 48 hours and seven days after the treatment which could, consequently, be translated into repeating the dose of corticosteroid antenatal in those women who remained at risk of preterm delivery for more than seven days after the initial cycle. Since the 1980's, the studies in animals and human beings have raised controversies on the use of repeated doses due to the potential adverse effect for the offspring. Today, the assessment of the evidence in the effectiveness of the antenatal therapy with corticosteroid has showed that all pregnant women at risk for preterm delivery , between 24 and 34 weeks, are potential cadidates to receive a single cycle of corticosteroid. There is not enough evidence to evaluate the use of repeated doses of corticosteroid in women who remain at risk for preterm delivery for more than seven days after the first dose.

Changing physician's practice on antenatal corticosteroids in preterm birth.

This study aimed to monitor the change of practice in antenatal corticosteroids use in preterm birth, assess how physicians would prescribe and identify factors associated with such a prescription. Medical records were reviewed quantitatively and current attending physicians were interviewed qualitatively. Multiple logistic regression with random effect model was used for analysis. The results revealed that antenatal corticosteroid use in preterm births initially doubled after the evidence became available and tripled after the evidence was disseminated. The antenatal corticosteroid use among women having a gestational age less than 34 weeks increased significantly from 41% to 71% and 73%, respectively (p < 0.01). A gestational age of 34 weeks or more or a higher cervical dilatation at admission reduced the use of corticosteroids significantly. In conclusion, physician's practice changed based on the evidence. The education for the early recognition of labor and guidelines on the use of antenatal corticosteroids should be implemented.