Perinatal factors influencing the outcome of 501- to 1000-gm newborns.

This article is a review of the various factors relating to fetal and neonatal mortality in infants of a particular birth weight. Factors influencing survival positively also are considered, including various presentations and some specific maternal factors.

[A survey on the constitutional status of perinates in China].

Data of all categories of birth defects among live and still births from 28 weeks of gestation to a period within 7 days after delivery were collected. During a period of 12 months (1986.10-1987.9), there were 1,243,284 perinates monitored in 945 hospitals of 29 provinces, cities and autonomous regions. Among these, 16,172 perinates were with birth defects. Altogether, 101 categories of birth defects were noted. The total incidence of the 101 categories of birth defects in China was 130.1 per 10,000. The 5 leading categories of major birth defects by frequency were: anencephaly, hydrocephaly, spina bifida, cleft lip with cleft palate, and congenital heart diseases. Perinatal deaths totaled 33,137 and the perinatal mortality was 26.7 per 10,000. Among the causes of perinatal death, congenital malformation accounted for 17.8%. There were 44,469 births (35.8%) of full-term low birth weight infants, and 1,748 of them were with birth defects. The incidence of birth defects in full-term low birth weight infants was 393.1 per 10,000.

Parity and perinatal mortality amongst diabetics in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.

The parity and the perinatal mortality of 226 married Nigerian female diabetics, aged 20 to 76 years (mean 47.1 years), and 226 married female nondiabetics matched for age and educational level with the diabetics were studied. There was no statistically significant difference between the diabetics and nondiabetics in terms of primary infertility, irrespective of age of onset of diabetes. In the group with one to four deliveries, the nondiabetics significantly outnumbered the diabetics (P less than 0.001) irrespective of age of onset of diabetes. In the group with seven to nine deliveries, only the diabetics of child-bearing age (P less than 0.01); and in the group with 10 or more deliveries, diabetics significantly outnumbered the nondiabetics irrespective of age of onset of diabetes (P less than 0.01). There was a statistically significant difference between the diabetics and nondiabetics in terms of the overall perinatal mortality (P less than 0.001). However, this difference was not significant in diabetics of childbearing age. In Nigeria, where large families are common and children often born in rapid succession, high parity appears not only to increase the chances of a woman developing diabetes in late life but also in early life. Effective birth control practice may thus help in reducing the incidence of diabetes amongst Nigerian women. Additionally, a programme extending to the rural areas aimed at early detection of diabetes and proper management of the pregnant diabetic by a team of medical personnel with special interest in diabetes will help in reducing the perinatal mortality in Nigerian diabetics.

Epidemiological features of perinatal death due to obstructed labour in Addis Ababa.

Obstructed labour was the second most common cause of perinatal death in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, being responsible for 9.1 perinatal deaths/1000 births. Most obstructed labours were due to cephalopelvic disporportion. There was a ninefold increase in the perinatal death rate when the patients were anaemic but most perinatal deaths were due to delays in seeking available obstetrical care. Formal education of the patients had little influence on the death rates but the informal education that comes with prolonged urban residence had a markedly favourable effect. Use of prenatal medical services and adequate income also had a favourable influence.

Colestasis intrahepática del embarazo / Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Se revisaron 29 trabajos científicos publicados en diversas partes del mundo, encontrándose una incidencia de la colestasis intrahepática del embarazo diez veces mayor en Suecia, Finlandia, Polonia y Chile. El rol etiopatogénico principal recae en los estrógenos. Se inicia en el tercer trimestre del embarazo y el purito es el rasgo más predominante y perturbador de la enfermedad. Se han usado diversos tratamientos farmacológicos como el fenobarbital, la colestiramina, el Secholex, silimarina, y el 5 adenosil 1 metionina, con buenos resultados sobre todo con el uso del último