Objectives The aims of this thesis were to (1) investigate the association of gestational exposure to environmental phthalates with maternal and perinatal outcomes, and (2) explore phthalate-induced changes to maternal inflammatory responses as potential mediators of possible health effects. Methods A systematic review was performed to summarize existing evidence on the association of gestational exposure to phthalates with obstetrical outcomes, including pre-eclampsia (PE), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), birth weight (BW), head circumference (HC), gestational age (GA), preterm birth (PB), and Apgar scores (AS). Additionally, a secondary analysis of data from the MIREC Study was conducted to evaluate the association of phthalate metabolites with clinical outcomes in the mother and infant using multiple linear and logistic regression, and with inflammatory biomarkers using multinomial logistic regression. Results The systematic review identified a total of 24 articles, and observed inconsistent evidence on BW, HC, GA, and PB, a paucity of research on IUGR, PE, GDM, and AS, and a lack of studies on PIH. However, among studies with statistically significant (p<0.05) results, most suggest an association of phthalates with decreased BW and GA, and increased HC and PB. Findings from the MIREC Study indicate a significant (p<0.01) positive association between MBP and HC among female infants; however, null results were identified for BW, GA, PB, AS, and PIH. In relation to the exposure to phthalates, general trends among suggestive associations (p<0.05) for head circumference showed consistent increases in females and decreases in males, and for gestational age displayed decreases in both stratums. Additionally, a significant positive association of MBzP and ∑DEHP was observed with high MMP-2 and low VCAM levels, respectively. Results approaching statistical significance demonstrated a positive association of ∑DEHP with low MCP1 and ICAM levels, MCPP with low GMCSF levels, MBzP with low CRP and high ICAM levels, and MEP with high MMP-7 and IL-2 levels. Conclusion From the systematic review, the effects of phthalates on maternal and perinatal health remain unclear, possibly due to sources of heterogeneity and challenges in exposure assessment. In the MIREC Study cohort, phthalate levels were associated with GA and HC in infants in a sex-specific manner. Phthalates also appear to influence the circulating inflammatory marker levels, possibly explaining the observed adverse effects. Future research is needed to validate these findings.

faustino.perez@unizar.es / Objective: To assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on obstetric outcomes and birth variables. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Setting: Not applicable. Patient(s): Pregnant women and neonates. Intervention(s): PubMed and 5 other research databases were searched through March 2014 for RCTs evaluating vitamin D supplementation calcium/vitamins/ferrous sulfate vs. a control (placebo or active) during pregnancy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Measures were: circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight, preterm birth, birth weight, birth length, cesarean section. Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effects models were used, owing to expected scarcity of outcomes. Effects were reported as relative risks and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Result(s): Thirteen RCTs (n ¼ 2,299) were selected. Circulating 25(OH)D levels were significantly higher at term, compared with the control group (mean difference: 66.5 nmol/L, 95% CI 66.2–66.7). Birth weight and birth length were significantly greater for neonates in the vitamin D group; mean difference: 107.6 g (95% CI 59.9–155.3 g) and 0.3 cm (95% CI 0.10–0.41 cm), respectively. Incidence of preeclampsia, GDM, SGA, low birth weight, preterm birth, and cesarean section were not influenced by vitamin D supplementation. Across RCTs, the doses and types of vitamin D supplements, gestational age at first administration, and outcomes were heterogeneous. Conclusion(s): Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was associated with increased circulating 25(OH)D levels, birth weight, and birth length, and was not associated with other maternal and neonatal outcomes. Larger, better-designed RCTs evaluating clinically relevant outcomes are necessary to reach a definitive conclusion. (Fertil Steril 2015;-:-–-. 2015 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.) / Revisión por pares

Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Objective: To review the difference in short term neonatal and maternal outcomes among singleton infants with breech presentation delivered by vaginal or elective caesarean section route at term, at Tygerberg Academic Hospital (TBH) in Cape Town. The study design was a retrospective case control study. Method: Part I A total of 120 patients were selected. 60 vaginal breech deliveries and 60 elective caesarean sections for breech presentation (comprising the control group). 60 cases of vaginal deliveries were collected and 60 control cases of planned elective caesarean sections, where the indication for CS was breech presentation, were collected in the same manner. Part II Nineteen registrars completed a questionnaire regarding their subjective experiences of vaginal breech deliveries at Tygerberg Academic Hospital. Results: Part I An analysis of the results found statistically significant differences in maternal ages between the two groups, with younger women delivering by CS; gravidity and parity was lower in the CS group; blood loss was observed to be higher in the CS group with more women requiring a blood transfusion when compared to vaginal delivery; there were more neonatal admissions in the vaginal delivery group as well as more birth trauma, neonatal seizures and death in this group; Apgar scores were higher in the CS group and finally, neonates born by CS were more commonly discharged at the same time as their mothers in the CS group. Part II When analyzing the registrar questionnaire it can be noted that although clinicians are performing an adequate number of breech vaginal deliveries, with an average of 10 deliveries per year, the skills training for clinicians is invaluable. Not all registrars learned skills from a senior clinician and skills training in skills labs are essential for initial and even continual training of these clinicians. It is suggested that these skills training programs be made compulsory for all registrars and that a biyearly attendance and completing of such a course be mandatory for those wishing to work in the labour ward. Conclusions: Although not statistically significant, there was more morbidity and mortality associated with vaginal breech delivery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doel: Om die korttermyn neonatale en moederlike uitkomste van enkeling swangerskappe met stuitligging wat vaginaal of met elektiewe keisersnee verlos is by die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal in Kaapstad, te bepaal. Die werkstuk is ‘n retrospektiewe gekontroleerde-gevallestudie. Metode: Deel 1 ‘n Totaal van 120 pasiënte is gekies. 60 gevalle van vaginale stuitverlossings en 60 kontrolegevalle van beplande elektiewe keisersnitte waar die indikasie stuitligging was. Deel 2 Negentien kliniese assistente het die vraelys oor hul persoonlike ervaring van vaginale stuitverlossing by die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal ingevul. Resultate: Deel 1 ‘n Ontleding van die resultate wys statisties betekenisvolle verskille in die moederouderdom van die twee groepe, met meer jong vroue wat met keisernit geboorte gee. Graviditiet en pariteit was laer in die keisersnit-groep. Bloedverlies was hoër in die keisersnit-groep en in vergelyking met die vaginale verlossings met meer vroue wat bloedoortapping benodig. In die vaginale verlossingsgroep was meer neonatale toelatings nodig asook meer geboortetrauma, neonatale konvulsies en sterftes. Apgar-tellings was hoër in die keisersnitgroep en neonate wat met ‘n keisersnitte gebore is, is meer dikwels saam met hul moeders ontslaan. Deel II Ontleding van die vraelys vir kliniese assistente wys dat hoewel klinici ‘n genoegsame getal van gemiddeld 10 vaginale stuitverlossings per jaar uitvoer, vaardigheidsopleiding vir klinici van onskatbare waarde sal wees. Nie alle kliniese assistente leer vaardighede by senior klinici nie en opleiding in ‘n vaardigheidslaboratorium is noodsaaklik vir die aanvanklike en selfs voortdurende opleiding van dié kliniese assistente. Dit word voorgestel dat hierdie vaardigheidkursusse verpligtend gemaak word vir alle kliniese asssistente en bywoning en voltooiing van die kursus twee maal per jaar verpligtend moet wees vir diegene wat in ‘n kraamsaal wil werk. Gevolgtrekking: Vaginale stuitverlossings, hoewel nie stastisties betekenisvol nie, het met meer morbiditeit en sterftes gepaardgegaan.

The use of deep-water immersion during labour and birth is commonplace in many countries including Australia, yet there has been little contemporary Australian data from which to form policies regarding its use during childbirth, or which have included women’s experiences using water immersion. The literature reviewed for this study was positive with regard to the effect of water immersion during childbirth and was associated with decreased rates of perineal trauma, low episiotomy rates, low rates of analgesic use, lower operative deliveries coupled with increased maternal satisfaction of the experience of childbirth when compared with births where water immersion was not involved. The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of deep-water immersion upon maternal and neonatal outcomes and women's experiences of giving birth in Australia. This study used a mixed method in an attempt to fulfil this purpose: the first phase was a Quasi-experimental design and the second phase was based upon a Hermeneutic Phenomenological approach. Data were collected via a Random Chart Audit, from a random sample of fifty nulliparous women who used deepwater immersion during labour and childbirth and six women were selected to participate in a semi-structured interview. Data from each phase of this study revealed positive birth outcomes and these findings were supported by the literature. The women's stories were positive and comprised elements of four lifeworld themes. • Water’s Embrace • Warped Time • Naked but Clothed • The Shape of Water. Each of these themes encapsulated different aspects of the women's experiences, which when considered together, increased the understanding of the phenomenon of deep-water immersion upon the experience of giving birth.

The prevalence of pregnancies complicated by chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing. Yet, CKD in pregnancy tends to be under-diagnosed, as women of childbearing age are not regularly screened for renal dysfunction, nor is screening incorporated into routine pregnancy follow up. Further, renal dysfunction has significant implications for maternal and fetal outcomes, with degree of renal dysfunction at conception being the most important prognostic factor. It is established that the risk for poorer renal, maternal and fetal outcomes, increases incrementally with severity of CKD, with intrauterine death and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESDR) associated with severe CKD. However, it is difficult to predict which CKD pregnancies will lead to poor outcomes as the definition of CKD in pregnancy is not uniform between studies, nor are measurement parameters. This paucity of data prevents the establishment of a standard of care protocol and leaves clinicians ill-equipped to care for and manage this complex patient cohort. This review discusses renal, maternal and fetal outcomes in CKD pregnancies as presented by the literature, in order to demonstrate the contradictions in data and gaps in knowledge surrounding this topic, as well as the need for a general management algorithm.

abstract: Home visitation programs are growing in popularity for a variety of social concerns including early childhood abuse and neglect. Healthy Families Arizona (HFAz) uses the home visitation format to deliver early-childhood development and parenting skills for at-risk parents with the goal of decreasing incidents of child abuse and neglect (Daro & Harding, 1999). Some research demonstrates that the strength of the worker’s alliance with parents can be significantly predictive of home visitation program completion and decreases in depression for participating mothers, but these findings have little replication (Girvin, DePanfilis, & Daining, 2007). It is important to have a clear understanding of worker-client alliance and how it affects maternal outcomes including program retention and completion so that those working with home visitation interventions can implement programs from an evidence-based perspective, thus increasing efficiency and efficacy of programs. This study hypothesizes a significant relationship exists between Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) scores and Healthy Families Parenting Inventory scores, and that WAI scores predict maternal outcomes from the HFPI. Bivariate correlation analysis determined a significant positive relationship exists between WAI scores and home visitation completion rates (r=0.320, p= .042), and found no other significant relationships. Regression analysis found WAI scores are predictive home visitation completion. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Social Work 2015

Submitted by ANDRESSA TRECENTI DAMACENA null (dretrecenti@hotmail.com) on 2016-05-04T11:16:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Andressa - Repositório.pdf: 2946507 bytes, checksum: 9abbfaa6ae7910659e2f50cdfcba9757 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-04T20:44:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 damacena_at_me_bot.pdf: 2946507 bytes, checksum: 9abbfaa6ae7910659e2f50cdfcba9757 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-04T20:44:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 damacena_at_me_bot.pdf: 2946507 bytes, checksum: 9abbfaa6ae7910659e2f50cdfcba9757 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-23 / Introdução: Pré-eclâmpsia é uma síndrome sistêmica específica da gestação com etiopatogenia ainda não esclarecida, porém acredita -se ser decorrente de alterações no processo de invasão trofoblástica, com consequente inadequado suprimento sanguíneo uterino e estresse oxidativo do tecido placentário. O aumento da concentração de ácido úrico sérico materno (AU) em mulheres com pré-eclâmpsia tem sido associado com a gravidade da hipertensão, proteinúria e prognóstico materno e perinatal na gestação. Objetivos: Identificar a associação entre a concentração sérica de ácido úrico e resultados maternos e perinatais adversos e correlacionar a concentração sérica do ácido úrico materno com recémnascidos pequenos para idade gestacional e proteinúria materna. Sujeitos e Métodos: Foi realizado estudo retrospectivo, em gestantes com pré-eclâmpsia, as quais foram estratificadas de acordo com a dosagem de ácido úrico sérico em dois grupos: I (inferior a 6 mg/dL) e II (igual ou superior a 6 mg/dL) e avaliados resultados adversos maternos e perinatais. Resultados: No grupo II houve maior frequência de crise hipertensiva(25%), eclampsia(6,9%), síndrome HELPP parcial (7,8%) e síndrome HELLP(6,9%), maior número de recém-nascidos pequenos para idade gestacional(47%), menor peso do recém-nascido, maior porcentagem de óbito fetal(1,8%), de prematuridade(68%) e de índice de Apgar no 1º minuto(38%). Conclusões: Os resultados demonstram que as paciente com ácido úrico elevado apresentam piores resultados adversos tanto maternos quanto perinatais, sendo assim a dosagem de ácido úrico sérico materna associadas a outros exames clínicos e laboratoriais, pode auxiliar nos processos de decisão na prática obstétrica. / Introduction: Preeclampsia is a specific systemic disease of pregnancy with unknown etiology, but it is believed to be due to changes in the process of trophoblastic invasion, leading to an inadequate uterine blood supply and oxidative stress of the placental tissue. Increasing of maternal uric acid serum concentration (UA) in women with pre-eclampsia has been associated with the severity of hypertension, proteinuria and maternal and perinatal outcome on pregnancy. Objectives: Identify the association between serum uric acid and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. More specifically, the correlation of maternal UA serum concentration with newborn size for gestational age and maternal proteinuria. Subjects and Methods: Cross observational study in pregnant women with preeclampsia, which were stratified according to dose of serum uric acid into two groups, as follow: I (below 6 mg/dL) and II (greater or equal to 6 mg/dL). Maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes were examined. Results were analyzed by T - Student and chi-square tests and correlations were evaluated by Pearson test. The level of significance used was 5%. Results: In group II there were a greater frequency of hypertensive crisis, eclampsia, partial HELPP syndrome and HELLP syndrome. Also it were observed an increased number of small newborns for gestational age, lower weight of the newborn, the higher percentage of fetal death, prematurity and index Apgar at 1 minute. Conclusions: The results suggest that patients with higher uric acid have worse adverse outcomes both for maternal and perinatal. In conclusion, the dosage of maternal serum uric acid associated with other clinical and laboratory tests can help in the decision on obstetrical practice.

Orientador: Vera Terezinha Medeiros Borges / Resumo: Introdução: Pré-eclâmpsia é uma síndrome sistêmica específica da gestação com etiopatogenia ainda não esclarecida, porém acredita -se ser decorrente de alterações no processo de invasão trofoblástica, com consequente inadequado suprimento sanguíneo uterino e estresse oxidativo do tecido placentário. O aumento da concentração de ácido úrico sérico materno (AU) em mulheres com pré-eclâmpsia tem sido associado com a gravidade da hipertensão, proteinúria e prognóstico materno e perinatal na gestação. Objetivos: Identificar a associação entre a concentração sérica de ácido úrico e resultados maternos e perinatais adversos e correlacionar a concentração sérica do ácido úrico materno com recémnascidos pequenos para idade gestacional e proteinúria materna. Sujeitos e Métodos: Foi realizado estudo retrospectivo, em gestantes com pré-eclâmpsia, as quais foram estratificadas de acordo com a dosagem de ácido úrico sérico em dois grupos: I (inferior a 6 mg/dL) e II (igual ou superior a 6 mg/dL) e avaliados resultados adversos maternos e perinatais. Resultados: No grupo II houve maior frequência de crise hipertensiva(25%), eclampsia(6,9%), síndrome HELPP parcial (7,8%) e síndrome HELLP(6,9%), maior número de recém-nascidos pequenos para idade gestacional(47%), menor peso do recém-nascido, maior porcentagem de óbito fetal(1,8%), de prematuridade(68%) e de índice de Apgar no 1º minuto(38%). Conclusões: Os resultados demonstram que as paciente com ácido úrico elevado apresentam piores resulta... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Preeclampsia is a specific systemic disease of pregnancy with unknown etiology, but it is believed to be due to changes in the process of trophoblastic invasion, leading to an inadequate uterine blood supply and oxidative stress of the placental tissue. Increasing of maternal uric acid serum concentration (UA) in women with pre-eclampsia has been associated with the severity of hypertension, proteinuria and maternal and perinatal outcome on pregnancy. Objectives: Identify the association between serum uric acid and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. More specifically, the correlation of maternal UA serum concentration with newborn size for gestational age and maternal proteinuria. Subjects and Methods: Cross observational study in pregnant women with preeclampsia, which were stratified according to dose of serum uric acid into two groups, as follow: I (below 6 mg/dL) and II (greater or equal to 6 mg/dL). Maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes were examined. Results were analyzed by T - Student and chi-square tests and correlations were evaluated by Pearson test. The level of significance used was 5%. Results: In group II there were a greater frequency of hypertensive crisis, eclampsia, partial HELPP syndrome and HELLP syndrome. Also it were observed an increased number of small newborns for gestational age, lower weight of the newborn, the higher percentage of fetal death, prematurity and index Apgar at 1 minute. Conclusions: The results suggest that pati... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre