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High-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in pregnancy: clinicotherapeutic management.

UNLABELLED: An increasing incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) among young women has been noticed in recent years. For this reason pregnancy might represent a peculiar opportunity to undergo cytocolposcopic examination for those women who do not take part in a screening program for cervical carcinoma. Diagnosis of CIN during pregnancy poses the question of the management of this disease and particularly of whether it is better to treat the lesion or not during pregnancy. To contribute to the solution of this issue we initiated a study on the management of high-grade CIN in pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-one pregnant women underwent cytologic, colposcopic and, when necessary, histologic examination. Those in whom a CIN was discovered in the first four months of gestation underwent laser conization. When the diagnosis of CIN was made after the sixteenth week of gestation, cytocolposcopic monitoring was performed every eighth week during pregnancy and two months after childbirth. Laser conization was performed under colposcopic guidance in the outpatient setting in all cases. All treated patients were submitted to cytologic, colposcopic and, if necessary, histologic examination every third month in the first year after treatment, every sixth month in the second year and yearly from the third year onwards. RESULTS: In 14 (2.4%) of the 571 examined women a CIN III was discovered, 6 of which associated with a human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Of these, 8 patients, whose diagnosis was made within the sixteenth week of pregnancy, underwent laser conization. In one case a minor hemorrhage occurred during treatment. Two patients reported minor bleeding up to ten days after treatment. No major hemorrhages or cervical stenosis were observed. Histologic examination of the cones confirmed the preoperative diagnosis based on cervical biopsies and the lesion was entirely removed by conization in all cases. Seven of the 8 patients who underwent laser conization during pregnancy had a spontaneous delivery at term. The remaining patient, who had had a previous cesarean section, was again delivered by cesarean section. All treated patients were cured after the first-year follow-up visit. In 6 patients CIN was diagnosed after the sixteenth week of pregnancy. These women underwent cytocolposcopic examination every eighth week during pregnancy and two months after delivery, when the cervical changes associated with gestation had disappeared. Four of these patients showed persistence of CIN at postpartum follow-up and therefore underwent laser conization. In two patients spontaneous regression of the lesion was observed. In no case did progression to invasive carcinoma occur. CONCLUSIONS: Given the increasing incidence of CIN in young women, the beginning of pregnancy may represent a peculiar opportunity for all pregnant women who do not take part in cervical screening programs to undergo a cytocolposcopic examination. In case of a diagnosis of high-grade CIN within the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, a conservative excisional treatment, which does not expose the pregnancy to any risk, should be carried out in order to confirm the intraepithelial localization of the lesion.

Adult↗

Early introduction of solid foods among urban African-American participants in WIC.

OBJECTIVE: To compare infant feeding practices among low-income, urban, African-American women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) with current recommendations for infant feeding. DESIGN: Longitudinal follow-up of women and their infants who participated in a WIC-based breast-feeding promotion project. Women enrolled prenatally at or before 24 weeks of gestation were followed up until 16 weeks postpartum. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Two hundred seventeen African-American WIC participants in an urban area. METHODS: Data related to infant feeding practices were collected by interviewers who used a structured questionnaire to determine when nonmilk liquids or solids were introduced to the infant. Reported practices were compared with current recommendations. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED: Contingency table analysis, including chi 2 tests, and multivariate analysis using logistic regression. RESULTS: By 7 to 10 days postpartum, approximately a third of infants were receiving some nonmilk liquids or solids; this escalated to 77% by 8 weeks and 93% by 16 weeks postpartum. Women breast-feeding exclusively (i.e., not adding nonmilk liquids or solids) were least likely, and women providing mixed feeding (breast milk and formula) were more likely, than women feeding formula exclusively to introduce nonmilk liquids and solids at each data collection time period. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: WIC participants who receive instruction about infant feeding nutrition are no more likely than mothers who do not participate in WIC to follow infant feeding guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in regard to the time when solids should be introduced to infants' diet. Our findings suggest the need for WIC to implement more powerful and innovative educational and motivational strategies to help mothers delay the introduction of nonmilk liquids and solid foods until their infants are 4 to 6 months old, as recommended.

Black or African American↗

Maternal self-medication and provision of nevirapine to newborns by women in Rakai, Uganda.

To assess the effectiveness of maternal self-administration of nevirapine for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, we conducted a program to provide maternal and newborn doses of nevirapine to pregnant women in rural Uganda. Women provided blood for HIV testing and were offered voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) during annual community HIV surveys. HIV-positive women who accepted VCT were offered nevirapine tablets and syrup. Blood samples were collected postpartum from women and their babies. Infants were tested for HIV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and a subsample of maternal and infant blood was assayed for nevirapine. Among the 981 women tested for HIV, 900 (91.7%) accepted VCT, of whom 105 (11.7%) were HIV-positive. Ninety-three women accepted nevirapine, of whom 81 (87.1%) were followed postpartum; 75 (92.6%) reported receipt of the drug, and 69 reported taking the tablets (85.2%). There were 81 liveborn babies (3 sets of twins), and 67 (84.8%) received the syrup. In a subsample of 25 mothers reporting receipt of the drug, nevirapine was detected in 22 (88.0%) and 24 (96.0%) babies tested. PCR of 67 infant blood samples identified 5 HIV-positive (MTCT rate = 7.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3%-16.6%). Mothers can administer nevirapine to themselves and their newborns and can achieve low rates of perinatal HIV infection.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Preventing postnatal depression in mothers of very preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether a cognitive-behaviour therapy intervention program reduces the prevalence of depression during the first postnatal year in mothers of very preterm babies. DESIGN: Prospective, single blind, randomised, controlled study. SETTING: Perinatal centre in Western Australia. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and ninety-nine out of 673 English-speaking mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal unit. INTERVENTION: A six-session cognitive-behaviour therapy intervention program provided by a research midwife between weeks two and six after birth. Women in the control group received standard care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Depression and anxiety disorders occurring in the first year assessed by a clinical psychologist at structured interview using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) at 2 weeks, 2, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: One hundred and one women were randomised to the intervention group and 98 to the control group. Fifty-four mothers (27%) in the trial were diagnosed with minor or major depression in the 12 months following very preterm delivery, 29 (29%) in the intervention group and 25 (26%) in the control group (relative risk 1.1 [95% CI 0.80-1.5]). There were no differences in the time of onset or the duration of the episodes of depression between the groups. Overall, 74 mothers (37%) of the 199 met criteria for a diagnosis of psychological morbidity during the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Our intervention program did not alter the prevalence of depression in these mothers. Rates of depression and stress reactions are high in these mothers.

Adult↗

Addressing tobacco in managed care: results of the 2002 survey.

INTRODUCTION: In the United States, tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease. The health and cost consequences of tobacco dependence have made treatment and prevention of tobacco use a key priority among multiple stakeholders, including health plans, insurers, providers, employers, and policymakers. In 2002, the third survey of tobacco control practices and policies in health plans was conducted by America's Health Insurance Plans' technical assistance office as part of the Addressing Tobacco in Managed Care (ATMC) program. METHODS: The ATMC survey was conducted in the spring of 2002 via mail, e-mail, and fax. A 19-item survey instrument was developed and pilot-tested. Of the 19 items, 12 were the same as in previous years, four were modified to collect more detailed data on areas of key interest, and three were added to gain information about strategies to promote smoking cessation. The sample for the survey was drawn from the 687 plans listed in the national directory of member and nonmember health plans in America's Health Insurance Plans. RESULTS: Of the 246 plans in the sample, 152 plans (62%) representing more than 43.5 million health maintenance organization members completed the survey. Results show that health plans are using evidence-based programs and clinical guidelines to address tobacco use. Compared to ATMC survey data collected in 1997 and 2000, the 2002 ATMC survey results indicate that more health plans are providing full coverage for first-line pharmacotherapies and telephone counseling for smoking cessation. Plans have also shown improvement in their ability to identify at least some members who smoke. Similarly, a greater percentage of plans are employing strategies to address smoking cessation during the postpartum period to prevent smoking relapse and during pediatric visits to reduce or eliminate children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. CONCLUSION: The results of the 2002 ATMC survey reflect both tremendous accomplishments and important opportunities for health plans to collaborate in tobacco control efforts. With appropriate support, analytical tools, and resources, it is likely that health plans, clinicians, providers, and consumers will continue to evolve in their efforts to reduce the negative consequences of tobacco use.

Adult↗

Pattern of prenatal care and infant immunization status in a comprehensive adolescent-oriented maternity program.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between patterns of prenatal care utilization and the subsequent pattern of preventive infant health care utilization among patients in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, adolescent-oriented maternity program. METHODS: We hypothesized that the mothers of incompletely immunized 8-month-olds were less compliant with their own prenatal care appointments than were mothers of fully immunized 8-month-olds. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 150 consecutively delivered infants and their adolescent mothers. Data concerning the pattern of prenatal and postnatal use of preventive health care services and potentially confounding maternal characteristics were collected. RESULTS: Of the 150 infants aged 8 months, 22 (14.7%) were incompletely immunized. Mothers of completely and incompletely immunized infants did not differ in age, school enrollment status, or compliance with prenatal appointments. However, the latter group initiated prenatal care later, obtained fewer prenatal visits, returned later for postpartum care, and were more likely to be black and to report inadequate family support after delivery. Three of the 5 characteristics entered a logistic regression function that predicted the risk of incomplete immunizations at 8 months of age: third-trimester initiation of prenatal care (odds ratio, 4.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-13.7), inadequate family support (odds ratio, 3.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-10.0), and black race (odds ratio, 3.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-8.69). The total model chi 2 was 15.8 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients in a comprehensive adolescent-oriented maternity program, the timing of the first prenatal visit helps to identify infants who are at increased risk for incomplete primary immunization status. Our findings favor preferential allocation of scarce, costly outreach services to infants born to adolescent mothers who enter prenatal care during the third trimester.

Adolescent↗

[Parity and the quantity of suckled maternal milk produced in the 1st 4 days of the puerperium].

In 120 nursing mothers, the quantity of milk suckled was evaluated during the first days of the puerperium. Measurements of the milk intake were based on the difference between the weights of the neonate before and after each feeding. It was noted that, as the parity of the mother increased, the mean quantity of breast milk suckled/24 hours increased on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of the puerperium, as well as during the last 24 hours prior to discharge from the hospital (3rd or 4th post-partum day). Given the importance of a satisfactory flow of breast milk during the first days of the puerperium in the successful initiation of the breast-feeding experience, the authors would like to emphasize the increased risk of failure in the primipara and to suggest that greater attention be given to the effect of maternal parity in programs which promote breast-feeding.

Body Weight↗

Perinatal coaching: program development.

Perinatal Coaching is a training/educational program introduced to new parents in the first days following the birth of their baby. This program provides support while teaching new parents skills to communicate and interact with their newborn following birth. The article gives an overview of the content of the Perinatal Coaching Program, a review of the newborn's capabilities and their relationship to perinatal coaching, important features of some ongoing programs, early identification and selection of parents, and speculation for future development.

Adolescent↗

Progesterone promotes survival of the rat corpus luteum in the absence of cognate receptors.

Progesterone production by the corpus luteum (CL) is essential for preparation of the endometrium for implantation and for the maintenance of gestation. Progesterone modulates its own production and opposes functional luteal regression induced by exogenous agents, such as prostaglandin F(2alpha). In the present study, we evaluated whether progesterone is also capable of interfering with the process of structural luteal regression, which is characterized by a decrease in weight and size of the gland because of programmed cell death (i.e., apoptosis). We have found that a low number of luteal cells undergo apoptosis throughout gestation. On the day of parturition, but following the initial decline in endogenous progesterone production, a small increase in the number of luteal cells undergoing cell death was observed. This increase in apoptotic cells continued postpartum, reaching dramatic levels by Day 4 postpartum, and was accompanied by a marked decrease in average luteal weight. We have established that the exogenous administration of progesterone significantly reduces the decline in luteal weight observed during structural luteal regression postpartum. This effect was associated with a decrease in the number of cells undergoing apoptosis and with enhanced circulating levels of androstenedione. Furthermore, in vivo administration of progesterone delayed the occurrence of DNA fragmentation in postpartum CL incubated in serum-free conditions. Finally, we have shown that neither the CL of gestation nor the newly formed CL after postpartum ovulation express the classic progesterone-receptor mRNA. In summary, the present results support a protective action of progesterone on the function and survival of the CL through inhibition of apoptosis and stimulation of androstenedione production. Furthermore, this effect is carried out in the absence of classic progesterone receptors.

Androstenedione↗

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: treatment options.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 is responsible for 1800 new infections in children daily. The use of antiretroviral therapy can significantly reduce the risk of transmission. In settings where highly active antiretroviral therapy is available, mother-to-child transmission rates have been reduced to less than 2%, in the absence of breastfeeding. Women who require ongoing highly active antiretroviral therapy for their own health should receive this in pregnancy, which is also very effective in preventing transmission. Where resources allow, combination highly active antiretroviral therapy can also be used for preventing mother-to-child transmission in those women who do not yet need to receive ongoing treatment. The potential side effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy must be considered in pregnant women and their infants. Where highly active antiretroviral therapy is not possible, a dual combination regimen of antepartum zidovudine with single-dose nevirapine to mother and baby can reduce transmission to below 5%. In many places, the only available option is single-dose nevirapine to mother and baby, which is effective in halving transmission risk, although the effectiveness in practice will be influenced by continued infection through breastfeeding, and by program factors such as the uptake of HIV testing. Exposure to nevirapine for mother-to-child transmission prevention can select for resistant virus in the majority of women. While the long-term implications of this are not completely clear, this selection can be reduced by the addition of short courses of postpartum zidovudine and lamivudine.

Animals↗

Smoking and health care patterns among pregnant women.

A population-based hospital survey of 3628 women in the postpartum period was conducted in the Ottawa-Carleton region in 1983 to determine the prevalence of smoking before and during pregnancy, the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of women who smoke during pregnancy and the use of health care services by these women. Of the 3628 women 91% completed a full-length questionnaire and 4% completed a shorter questionnaire. Before pregnancy 37.4% of the women smoked cigarettes. Overall, 61.1% of the smokers changed their smoking habit: 31.1% stopped, 28.1% decreased the amount smoked and 2.0% increased the amount smoked. Two thirds of the women who stopped smoking did so as soon as they realized they were pregnant. Over 50% of teenagers, single women, women living common-law and women with less than a grade 11 education smoked after the 3rd month of pregnancy. The physician is in an ideal position to identify as soon as possible pregnant women who smoke and to initiate a health education program. Only a few women who smoked during pregnancy attended early prenatal classes. Physicians and class organizers must work to improve this situation if such classes are to have an impact on smoking during pregnancy.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

A study of delta intrauterine devices in Ankara, Turkey.

Delta devices, modifications of standard Lippes Loop D and TCu 220C IUDs, were designed for postpartum insertion. A study of the Delta T and the Delta Loop was conducted at Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey. The IUDs were randomly allocated to 246 immediately postpartum women (less than 10 min postplacenta). Twelve-month expulsion rates were low for both devices; 3.7 for Delta Loop users and 7.6 for Delta T users.

Female↗

Access to postpartum sterilization in southeast Brazil.

All women hospitalized for delivery over a ten-week period at the largest maternity hospital in Campinas in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were questioned about their interest in and plans for sterilization. Results from a categorical data analysis indicate that among the study variables, cesarean delivery was the necessary condition for postpartum sterilization and was significantly associated with the patient's ability to pay for services. Further, the variability in the proportion of women sterilized postpartum was almost perfectly explained by a linear model with main effects for parity and for the patient's ability to pay for services.

Adolescent↗

[Antithrombin III deficiency and pregnancy. Apropos of a case].

Congenital deficiency of antithrombin III is a disease inherited as an autosomal dominant which predisposes to thromboembolism. Pregnancy and the postpartum period constitute a major additional risk factor for thromboembolism in deficient women. However, pregnancy may be envisaged without risk since there has been an improvement in knowledge concerning the physiology of the AT III molecule, its exact role in coagulation, the application of accurate laboratory tests which measure the deficiency, and especially the programming of pregnancy under cover of preventive treatment consisting of the perfusion of AT III concentrate in association with heparin. The treatment is restricting and costly but is, nevertheless, the only one to recreate conditions that are similar to physiological conditions, and its effect is therefore more certain.

Adult↗

Factors influencing intentions of pregnant women to exercise after giving birth.

The aim of this study was to identify factors that may influence a pregnant woman's decision to exercise after giving birth. A sample of 98 pregnant women were asked to complete a questionnaire investigation attitudes, social norms, perceived barriers to exercise, and intention regarding exercising after giving birth. Also determined were age, education level, exercise habits, number of months elapsed since onset of present pregnancy, and number of children. The regressions of intentions to exercise on all variables yielded R2 of 0.52 for nulliparous and 0.60 for pluriparous pregnant women. Important differences in variables that explained intentions were found between both groups of women, with perceived barriers to exercise being a key predictor that was, in turn, influenced by previous experience with pregnancy. It is suggested that the experience of the postnatal period modifies the interrelation between the variables explaining intentions regarding exercise after giving birth. Consequently, the programs should take into account the impact that the birth of a first child will have on the perceived barriers to exercise.

Attitude to Health↗

Socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in unintended pregnancy among postpartum women in California.

OBJECTIVE: We examined social disparities in unintended pregnancy among postpartum women to better understand 1) the role of socioeconomic factors in racial/ethnic disparities and 2) factors that might explain both socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in the risk for unintended pregnancy among women who give birth. METHODS: We used 1999 and 2000 data from a statewide-representative mail and telephone survey of postpartum women in California (N = 7044). We examined associations between unintended pregnancy and race/ethnicity (African American, Asian or Pacific Islander, U.S.-born Latina, foreign-born Latina, European or Middle Eastern), three socioeconomic factors (poverty status, maternal education, paternal education), and several potential explanatory factors. RESULTS: Overall, racial/ethnic disparities in unintended pregnancy were reduced by the three socioeconomic factors individually and collectively (e.g., reducing higher unadjusted odds for African Americans from 3.4 to 1.9); additional adjustment for marital status age, parity, insurance, language, abuse, sense of control, and interaction between marital status and race/ethnicity (each independently associated with unintended pregnancy) reduced the socioeconomic disparities (e.g., reducing odds for the poorest women from 4.1 to 2.3). Although reduced, significant racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities remained after adjustment, but generally only among married women. Results for Latinas appeared to vary by nativity, with foreign-born Latinas being at lower odds and U.S.-born Latinas being at higher odds of unintended pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic disparities in unintended pregnancy are partly explained by the socioeconomic factors we measured. Several additional factors were identified that suggest possible directions for policies and programs to help reduce social disparities in unintended pregnancy among childbearing women.

Adolescent↗

Progression of diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy: association with hypertension in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that women with insulin-dependent diabetes and chronic or pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders are at increased risk for developing retinopathic complications during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred fifty-four women with insulin-dependent diabetes were prospectively followed in an intensive program of diabetes in pregnancy. Ophthalmologic evaluations were obtained through pregnancy and at 6 to 12 weeks post partum, and findings were graded by a standard scale. Association of retinopathic progression with risk factors was tested with chi 2 and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-one women had progression of retinopathy during pregnancy; postpartum regression was observed in 13 women. Changes in glycemic control early in pregnancy, chronic hypertension, and pregnancy-induced hypertension were significantly associated with progression of retinopathy. CONCLUSION: Women with insulin-dependent diabetes who have hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are at increased risk for progression of retinopathy.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗