Knowledge is power? Cervical cancer prevention in female OB/GYNs compared to other female physicians.

Cervical cancer (CC) screening and prevention are crucial responsibilities of obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs). Our study aimed to investigate whether knowledge impacts OB/GYNs' ( = 42) adherence to CC prevention measures by comparing them to non-OB/GYN physicians ( = 80). An anonymous questionnaire collected demographic information, personal screening habits and evaluated their knowledge of CC prevention.

Fetal gender and umbilical cord characteristics at birth.

Objective: To determine fetal gender on umbilical cord parameters.

Methods: Umbilical cords were prospectively collected from uncomplicated, singleton, term pregnancies, which ended either by elective cesarean section or spontaneous vaginal delivery. Data regarding obstetrical history and pregnancy outcome were collected.

Neonatal blood glucose concentrations in caesarean and vaginally delivered term infants.

Background: Little is known about the glucose concentrations at and after birth of infants delivered by caesarean section (CS), when compared with infants born vaginally (VD).

Aim: To compare venous cord blood glucose concentrations of term infants born after elective CS to infants born by VD. We studied the null hypothesis that mode of delivery does not affect neonatal blood glucose values.

Increased cord serum inflammatory markers in small-for-gestational-age neonates.

Objective: The pathological picture in ischemic tissue injury shares features with the inflammatory response. Hypoxia-mediated induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) could set in motion the mechanisms limiting inflammation in ischemia. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) represents a human model of chronic fetal hypoxia.

Prohepcidin concentrations and erythroid progenitors in cord blood of appropriate versus small for gestational age neonates.

Objective: Prohepcidin (Pro-Hep), synthesized in the liver, is the prohormone of hepcidin (Hep), which reduces iron absorption in the gut; its synthesis is enhanced by inflammation and is reduced during hypoxia. We aimed to study the hypothesis that infants born small for gestational age (SGA) have reduced cord blood concentrations of Pro-Hep.

Study Design: Cord blood was collected from 20 SGA (term and near term >35 week gestation) infants and 20 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) controls.