AIMS To examine the effect of trimester specific and pregnancy average total trihalomethane (TTHM) exposure on infant birth weight, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth retardation in term births, as well as gestational age and preterm delivery in all births. METHODS Cross sectional analysis of 56 513 singleton infants born to residents of Massachusetts during 1990. City specific aggrega...

Adnexal masses in pregnancy are a diagnostic and management challenge that is increasingly being faced by obstetricians. The incidence of ovarian masses occurring during pregnancy is about 1 in 400-in 1,312 live births. Adnexal masses requiring surgical intervention in pregnancy have been reported to be around 1% to 2.3% of all gestations [1,2]. Only 0.04-0.05% of pregnant women are found to ha...

The results showed that incidence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in children was associated with maternal exposure to traffic-related pollutant NO2 throughout pregnancy. After adjustment for other pollutants and trimesters, the researchers found the association was significant only in specific trimesters: the first trimester for eczema, the second trimester for asthma, and the third t...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the factors associated with HIV1 RNA plasma viral load (pVL) below 40 copies/mL at the third trimester of pregnancy, as part of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in Benin. DESIGN Sub study of the PACOME clinical trial of malaria prophylaxis in HIV-infected pregnant women, conducted before and after the implementation of the WHO 2009 revised guidelines...

Postpartum depression affects a huge number of women and has detrimental consequences. Knowing the factors associated with postpartum depression during pregnancy can help its prevention. Although there is evidence surrounding behavioral or psychological predictors of postpartum depression, there is a lack of evidence of biological forecasters. The aim of this study was to analyze the sociodemog...

BACKGROUND Air pollution exposure during pregnancy might affect placental growth and function, perhaps leading to pregnancy complications. OBJECTIVE We prospectively evaluated the associations of maternal air pollution exposure with markers of placental growth and function among 7,801 pregnant women in the Netherlands. METHODS We estimated levels of particulate matter ≤ 10 µm in aerodynamic...

BACKGROUND/AIM To determine whether levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) change during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy, and to compare the third trimester of pregnancy with newborn cord blood in respect to the levels of MDA, NO, and antioxidant enzymes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Maternal blood samples were c...

BACKGROUND Conflicting results have been documented regarding the statistical significance of variations in some haematological parameters at different trimesters of pregnancy. Environmental factors, ethnic and tribal peculiarities have variously been implicated. The values of eight important haematological parameters: Haematocrit (Hct), Haemoglobin concentration (Hbc), Red Blood Cell (RBC) cou...