The mammary stimulation test - a predictor of preterm delivery?

Article Abstract:

Preterm (early) delivery is a major cause of infant sickness and death. Therefore, identifying women at risk for preterm delivery may help reduce infant mortality. The mammary stimulation test was developed and tested for its ability to identify pregnant women at risk for preterm delivery. Studies have indicated that nipple stimulation induces a substance called oxytocin to be released into the blood, and this substance causes the muscles in the uterus to contract. The mammary stimulation test involves measuring uterine contraction after nipple stimulation. This test was performed in 94 pregnant women between weeks 28 and 29 of pregnancy. The strength of any subsequent uterine contractions and the week of delivery were recorded. The test was considered positive if nipple stimulation caused uterine contractions and negative if it did not. Of the 94 women, 75 delivered at term and 19 delivered early. Eighty-four percent of the women who delivered early had positive test results, while only 41 percent of the women who delivered at term had positive test results. Ninety-four percent of the women who had negative test results delivered at term. Although more studies using larger numbers of subjects are needed to verify these findings, these preliminary results indicate that the mammary stimulation test may be useful in predicting preterm delivery. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Testing, Risk factors, Premature labor, Premature birth, Uterus, Uterine contractions, Mammary glands

---

Precise gaussian distribution functions of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin for trisomy 21 screening: improved accuracy for patient counseling

Article Abstract:

Traditional models for evaluating Down's syndrome risk appear to be adequate but can be improved. Blood tests for beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein from 348 women carrying Down's syndrome infants and 58,297 women carrying normal infants were statistically analyzed using traditional and proposed methods. Statistical variance improved when distribution calculations were used to counteract the effects of deviant results. Calculated risk using this proposed model was 1 in 113 compared to 1 in 251 using the traditional method.

Methods, Genetic screening, Genetic testing, Down syndrome, Blood, Chorionic gonadotropin, Chorionic gonadotropins, Prenatal diagnosis, Blood chemical analysis, Alpha fetoproteins

---

Correctly identifying the macrosomic fetus: improving ultrasonography-based prediction

Article Abstract:

A baby is likely to be born bigger than normal if the estimated fetal weight based on abdominal circumference is larger than the estimated weight based on head circumference or leg length. This was the conclusion of a study of 4,831 fetuses whose birth weight was estimated up to 14 days before delivery.

Fetus, Fetal macrosomia

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The influence of gestational age and smoking habits on the risk of subsequent preterm deliveries. Caffeine intake and the risk of first-trimester spontaneous abortion
• Abstracts: Twenty-four-hour automated blood pressure monitoring as a predictor of preeclampsia. Vascular reactivity in men and women of reproductive age
• Abstracts: The Preterm Prediction Study: toward a multiple-marker test for spontaneous preterm birth. The preterm prediction study: risk factors in twin gestations
• Abstracts: Early identification of refractory epilepsy. New antiepileptic drugs. Antiepileptic drugs
• Abstracts: The relationship between patient income and physician discussion of health risk behaviors. Physicians' Recommendations to Patients for Use of Antibiotic Prophylaxis to Prevent Endocarditis

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.