Assessment of oxidative stress markers in cord blood of newborns to patients with oxytocin-induced labor.

AIM: We aimed to measure the extent of oxidative stress experienced during labor by the neonates of pregnant women undergoing induced or spontaneous birth and to compare the effects of induced labor on fetal well-being. METHODS: Sixty-four healthy pregnant women referring to the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dicle University Medical Faculty between October 2010 and May 2011 were included in this comparative study. Pregnant women undergoing induced labor by oxytocin were group 1 and those without labor induction were group 2. Post-partum Apgar score was calculated at 1 and 5 min and measurements of weight and height of the neonates were carried out. After the fetal cord was clamped, 5 cm3 blood was drawn into a plain tube without anticoagulant. The samples were centrifuged at 5000 r.p.m. for 5 min. Separated sera were transferred to Eppendorf tubes and were stored at -80 C° until the analysis time. RESULTS: The complete blood counts and biochemistry results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in regards to diseases between the two groups. Nitric oxide and asymmetrical dimethylarginine values of the two groups were not significantly different; however, there were statistically significant differences in the malondialdehyde, paraoxonase, total antioxidative status, and total oxidative status values of the two groups (respectively, P = 0.005, P = 0.006, P = 0.008, and P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: We observed that oxytocin-induced labor increases stress markers but does not affect Apgar scores. Oxidative stress in pregnant women may trigger antioxidative mechanisms. Prospective studies in larger cohorts are needed to better understand the impact of oxytocin-induced labor on pregnant women and neonates.

There is a Positive Correlation Between Socioeconomic Status and Ovarian Reserve in Women of Reproductive Age.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential association between socioeconomic status and ovarian reserve, anti-Mullerian hormone level, antral follicle count, and follicle stimulating hormone level in women of reproductive age. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 101 married women between 20-35 years of age who presented to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Research System In Vitro Fertilization (HRS IVF) Center between October 2014 and November 2015 and met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. The participants were divided into three socioeconomic groups using Kuppuswamy's socioeconomic status scale. Thirty-one participants were assigned to the low socioeconomic status group, 37 to the middle socioeconomic status group, and 33 to the high socioeconomic status group. On days 3-6 of the menstrual cycle, 10 mL of blood was collected from the participants for follicle stimulating hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone measurements. Transvaginal ultrasonography was performed for both ovaries for the purpose of counting antral follicles measuring 2-10 mm in diameter. RESULTS Both ovarian reserve parameters, namely anti-Mullerian hormone level and antral follicle count, exhibited a significant association with socioeconomic status (p=0.000 and p=0.000, respectively). The association between follicle stimulating hormone level and socioeconomic status was also significant (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS A low socioeconomic status aggravated by sources of stress such as undernutrition and financial hardships affects ovarian reserve, which should be remembered in approaching infertile patients.