Twin pregnancy: the distribution of maternal weight gain of non-smoking normal weight women.

We documented the pattern and distribution of weight gain through twin pregnancies of healthy non-smoking women with good birth outcomes. The mean birthweight was 2621 g and the mean gestational age at delivery was 37.6 weeks. As few of the women were weighed after 34 weeks, the weight gain graph was drawn to this point. The sample was separated into subgroups based on birthweights and gender of the infants. Weight gains, parity, income, first measured weight, BMI and Apgars were not different between the subgroups. The only difference between those with infants that were small for gestational age (SGA), over 3 kg, or intermediate in weight was gestational age. For the groups divided by infant gender, the only differences were maternal age and infant birthweight. The mean, median and 80% confidence limits for weight gain at 34 weeks were 14.1, 13.6, and between 8.5 and 19.4 kg, respectively. There was a wide range of weight gained by these women carrying twin pregnancies.

Effect of cyclosporin A on serum lipids in primary biliary cirrhosis patients.

Hyperlipidemia is a common complication of PBC. Ten patients with serologically and histologically defined PBC were randomized to receive either oral cyclosporin A (CyA) or placebo for one year. Fasting blood samples were obtained from subjects at the beginning, and following one year of treatment, for plasma lipids, apolipoproteins AI (apo AI) and B (apo B), and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity. On entry to the study there were no significant differences between groups for serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), free cholesterol (FC), total phospholipids (TPL), apo AI, apo B and LCAT activity. Compared to normal laboratory values, baseline TC was elevated in 5/10, LDL-C in 5/10, TPL in 6/10, while LCAT activity was decreased in 8/10 patients. The percent change after one year for CyA group vs the placebo group are as follows: total cholesterol, -22 vs -8%; LDL cholesterol -33 vs -25%; free cholesterol, -39 vs -14%; total phospholipids, -46 vs -23%; and LCAT activity, +/- 236 vs +/- 43%. The decrease in TC, LDL-C, FC, TPL with increase in LCAT activity suggests that CyA administration is associated with improvement in the lipid abnormalities of PBC.

Choice vegetables simultaneously for beta carotene. Vitamin C and fibre.

Beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fibre are found mainly in produce, that is, vegetables, fruits and grains. Unfortunately, grains, which have high content of fibre, are not normally consumed whole, and the most fibrous part might actually miss the alimentary tract. Fruits, which have high content of Vitamin C and are usually consumed unrefined, are expensive when not in season. In this article, we examine the possibility of maintaining recommended levels simultaneously of the nutrients mentioned with a short list of more popular vegetables, namely, broccoli, carrot, peas, sweet potato, and spinach.