A randomized multicenter trial assessing a home uterine activity monitoring device used in the absence of daily nursing contact

Article Abstract:

A home uterine activity monitoring device appeared to allow earlier diagnosis of labor and prolongation of pregnancy among women at high risk for preterm labor. This was true even without daily nursing contact, which has been suggested as the underlying reason behind the apparent effectiveness of home uterine activity monitoring. A group of 187 women with prior preterm birth were randomly assigned to a home uterine activity monitor or to standard instruction in diagnosing contractions. Monitored women were taught to use the monitor and transmitted data to a central station. Twenty-four percent of monitored women and 22% of control women experienced preterm labor. However, the average cervical dilation at time of diagnosis was 1.7 cm in the monitored group versus 2.8 cm among control women. Average duration of pregnancy after diagnosis among monitored women was 21 days versus 3 days among control women. The earlier labor is diagnosed, the more likely medication to suppress labor is to succeed.

Methods, Diagnosis, Premature labor, Patient monitoring, Physiologic monitoring

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Differential regulation of seizure activity in the hippocampus of male and female rats

Article Abstract:

Male rats may suffer more severe seizures than female rats, suggesting that seizure activity is influenced by sex hormones. Researchers induced seizures in 10 male and 18 female rats with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) after first giving them magnesium sulfate, an antiseizure drug. Male and female rats experienced a seizure at similar intervals after injection with NMDA, but female rats had much shorter seizure duration and much fewer seizures. Magnesium sulfate had a greater effect in male rats in reducing seizure duration and number of seizures. Low doses of NMDA caused severe seizures in male rats but mild ones in females. Females may need to be included in tests of antiseizure drugs as their seizure activity differs from that of males.

Research, Physiological aspects, Sex factors in disease, Disease sex factors, Disease susceptibility, Seizures (Medicine)

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Extracelluar and intracellular magnesium depletion in pregnancy and gestational diabetes

Article Abstract:

Gestational diabetes appears to associated with decreased free magnesium within cells. This may explain why gestational diabetics are more prone to hypertension because magnesium depletion can adversely affect several factors relating to blood pressure. Blood samples were taken from 13 women with diet-treated gestational diabetes, 20 healthy women, and 26 nonpregnant women. Free magnesium within red blood cells and ionized magnesium in blood plasma were measured. Pregnant women had reduced total amounts of magnesium and plasma ionized magnesium compared with nonpregnant women. Gestional diabetics had slightly reduced levels of cellular free magnesium compared with normal pregnant women and non-pregnant women.

Abnormalities, Causes of, Complications and side effects, Peripheral vascular diseases, Diabetes in pregnancy, Gestational diabetes, Magnesium metabolism

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