Abstract not available

Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity in New Zealand and overseas. Neonatal intensive care is the most expensive item in the national health budget. The human cost to the child and the family is significant. In the last twenty five years there has been no reduction in the preterm birth rate despite major advances in neonatal and obstetric care. The aim of this study is to describe and explore the experience of women who had received traditional Chinese acupuncture treatment for threatened preterm labour. I explore the perception of acupuncture as an effective treatment to stop preterm labour, prolong the pregnancy or prevent preterm birth in a subsequent pregnancy, where risk factors are present. This is a descriptive and exploratory case study using a multiple case study design. A purposive sample was selected of five retrospective cases of women who had had a previous preterm birth experience and who had used acupuncture for threatening preterm labour in a subsequent pregnancy. Data was collected from the women using interviews, observations and review of midwifery and acupuncture case notes. The data was analysed using content and thematic analysis and also principles based on the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. The key finding of the study is that the five women at risk all completed a full-term pregnancy. They all noticed that the signs and symptoms usually associated with threatening preterm labour went away when they had acupuncture. They also experienced a number of significant improvements to their general health and wellbeing. All five were totally happy with the outcomes and the entire acupuncture experience. When intervention is required, acupuncture based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine appears effective as a treatment strategy in preterm labour. Few studies have been done in this area. Further research is needed so that women can be offered choices and healthcare professionals can have confidence in acupuncture as a treatment strategy for threatening preterm labour.

Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity in New Zealand and overseas. Neonatal intensive care is the most expensive item in the national health budget. The human cost to the child and the family is significant. In the last twenty five years there has been no reduction in the preterm birth rate despite major advances in neonatal and obstetric care. The aim of this study is to describe and explore the experience of women who had received traditional Chinese acupuncture treatment for threatened preterm labour. I explore the perception of acupuncture as an effective treatment to stop preterm labour, prolong the pregnancy or prevent preterm birth in a subsequent pregnancy, where risk factors are present. This is a descriptive and exploratory case study using a multiple case study design. A purposive sample was selected of five retrospective cases of women who had had a previous preterm birth experience and who had used acupuncture for threatening preterm labour in a subsequent pregnancy. Data was collected from the women using interviews, observations and review of midwifery and acupuncture case notes. The data was analysed using content and thematic analysis and also principles based on the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. The key finding of the study is that the five women at risk all completed a full-term pregnancy. They all noticed that the signs and symptoms usually associated with threatening preterm labour went away when they had acupuncture. They also experienced a number of significant improvements to their general health and wellbeing. All five were totally happy with the outcomes and the entire acupuncture experience. When intervention is required, acupuncture based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine appears effective as a treatment strategy in preterm labour. Few studies have been done in this area. Further research is needed so that women can be offered choices and healthcare professionals can have confidence in acupuncture as a treatment strategy for threatening preterm labour.

Hui Sau Lei Raydi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-82). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT (English and Chinese) --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGMENT --- p.1 / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.2 / LIST OF TABLES --- p.3 / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.4 / Chapter I. --- Introduction and Objectives --- p.5-8 / Chapter II. --- Literature review --- p.9 / Chapter II.A --- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone --- p.9 / Chapter II.A.1. --- Structure of Corticotrophin-releasing hormone --- p.9-10 / Chapter II.A.2. --- Corticotrophin releasing hormone and normal Physiology --- p.11 / Chapter II.A.2.a. --- Pituitary-adrenal axis --- p.11-12 / Chapter II.A.2.b. --- Role of Pituitary-adrenal axis --- p.12 / Chapter II.A.3. --- Placental Corticotrophin releasing hormone --- p.13 / Chapter II.A.3.a. --- Origin --- p.13 / Chapter II.A.3.b. --- Physiology --- p.14 / Chapter II.A.3.C. --- Normal pregnancy --- p.15 / Chapter II.A.3.d. --- Association with human parturition --- p.16 / Chapter II.A.3.e. --- Association with preterm delivery and other abnormal pregnancy outcomes --- p.17-18 / Chapter II.B. --- Alpha-fetoprotein --- p.19 / Chapter II.B.1. --- Physiology --- p.19-20 / Chapter II.B.2. --- Maternal alpha-fetoprotein levels in the second trimester --- p.21-22 / Chapter III : --- Materials & Method --- p.23 / Chapter III.A. --- Study population --- p.23-24 / Chapter III.B. --- Sample collection and Analysis --- p.25 / Chapter III.C. --- Corticotrophin releasing hormone radioimmunoassay --- p.26 / Chapter III.C.l.a. --- Theoretical basis for radioimmunoassay --- p.26-27 / Chapter III.C.l.b. --- Vycor extraction of maternal plasma samples --- p.28-30 / Chapter III.C.l.c. --- Standard curve --- p.31-32 / Chapter III.C.l.d. --- Antisera --- p.33 / Chapter III.C.1.e. --- Tracer --- p.34-35 / Chapter III.C.l.f. --- HPLC Tracer Purification --- p.36-37 / Chapter III.C.l.g. --- Separation of bound from unbound Cortico- trophin-releasing hormone: second antibody --- p.38 / Chapter III.C.1.h. --- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone radio- immunoassay procedure --- p.39 / Chapter III.C.2. --- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone reagents --- p.40-41 / Chapter III.C.3. --- Estimation of Corticotrophin-releasing hormone extraction recovery --- p.42 / Chapter III.C.4. --- Sample dilution --- p.43 / Chapter III.D. --- Alpha-fetoprotein: microparticle enzyme immunoassay --- p.44 / Chapter III.D.1. --- Principles --- p.44 / Chapter III.D.2. --- Reaction Process --- p.45-46 / Chapter III.D.3. --- MEIA Optical Assembly --- p.47 / Chapter III.D.4. --- Operation --- p.47 / Chapter III.D.5. --- Alpha-fetoprotein reagents --- p.48 / Chapter III.D.6. --- Sample Dilution --- p.49 / Chapter III.D.7. --- Inter-assay and Intra-assay Variation --- p.50-52 / Chapter III.E. --- Data handling --- p.53 / Chapter III.F. --- Statistical Analysis --- p.53 / Chapter IV: --- Results --- p.54 / Chapter IV.A. --- Demographic Data --- p.55-57 / Chapter IV.B. --- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels --- p.58 / Chapter IV.B.1. --- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels increases as gestation advances --- p.58 / Chapter IV.B.2 --- The association between the plasma Corticotrophin releasing hormone levels and the time to delivery --- p.59 / Chapter IV.B.3 --- Elevated Corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels among the preterm group --- p.60 / Chapter IV.B.4. --- Corticotrophin releasing hormone levels and history of threatened abortion --- p.61 / Chapter IV.C. --- Alpha-fetoprotein levels --- p.62 / Chapter IV.C.1. --- Alpha-fetoprotein levels and gestational age --- p.62 / Chapter IV.C.2. --- Alpha-fetoprotein levels and preterm labour --- p.63 / Chapter V: --- Discussion --- p.64-65 / Chapter V.A. --- Importance of dating --- p.64 / Chapter V.B. --- Diagnosis of preterm labour --- p.64-65 / Chapter V.C.1. --- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone and labour --- p.65-66 / Chapter V.C.2. --- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone and infection --- p.66-67 / Chapter V.C.3. --- Diurnal rhythm of Corticotrophin-releasing hormone --- p.67 / Chapter V.C.4. --- Laboratory assays of Corticotrophin-releasing hormone --- p.68 / Chapter V.D. --- Alpha-fetoprotein and labour --- p.69-70 / Chapter VI. --- Reference --- p.71-82

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-62).

Thesis (doctoral)--Katholieke Universiteit te Nijmegen. / Bibliography: p. 156-174.

Objective: Unknown ethiology Background: Capnocytophaga ochracea is a gram-negative anaerobic organism commonly found in human oral flora. It is characteristically sensitive to beta-lactams and resistant to aminoglycosides. Case Report: A 23-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain and was admitted for premature labor at 24-weeks of gestation. At presentation, the cervix was closed and the membrane was intact; however, contractions continued, the membrane subsequently ruptured before receiving any steroids or magnesium, and the mother gave birth to a 540-gram female baby. At birth, Apgar scores were 1 at 5 minutes, 1 at 10 minutes, and 2 at 15 minutes. On the fifth day of life, the blood culture grew Capnocytophaga species. Consequently, Cefotaxime was started and ampicillin continued for a total of 14 days; however, on the 6th day, the head ultrasound showed grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage and a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order was placed in the chart. The patient's health continued to deteriorate, having multiple episodes of bradycardia and desaturation until cardiac arrest on the 17th day. Conclusions: Capnocytophaga ochracea was isolated from the blood culture of a preterm neonate. It was thought to be the cause of the premature labor and subsequent neonatal septicemia. This case report suggests that the prevalence of Capnocytophaga infections is most likely underestimated and that additional premature labors and abortions could have been caused by Capnocytophaga infections that were never detected. Hence, more studies are needed to investigate the route of transmission.

Leung Tse Ngong. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-197). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [114]-119).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-97).