Does third trimester cervical length predict duration of first stage of labor?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between third trimester cervical length (CL) measurement and duration of the first stage of labor. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included women with a singleton pregnancy who had routine CL measurements taken by transvaginal ultrasonography between 37 and 39 weeks gestation. Subjective duration of the first stage of labor was defined as the duration of contractions that the women subjectively had from the onset of regular contractions to full effacement of the cervix. Objective duration of first stage of labor was defined as 3 cm cervical dilation independent of cervical effacement until full effacement of the cervix. Associations between variables were analyzed using nonparametric correlations coefficients. A model relating the duration of labor to predictors was built using linear regression. RESULTS: In this analysis a total of 129 women were included. There was no significant correlation between CL and subjective duration of labor (ρ = -0.037, p = 0.695); however, a reduction in CL increased the objective duration of the first stage of labor (ρ = -0.269, p = 0.013). In univariate analysis parity (p = 0.018), hypertensive disorders (p = 0.013) and induction of labor (p = 0.022) were significantly associated with subjective duration of the first stage of labor. CONCLUSION: A long cervix in the third trimester is not associated with a prolonged first stage of labor. Induction of labor and multiparity were associated with a shorter first stage of labor while hypertension was associated with a longer duration of labor.

[The prognostic role of age in oral cancer. A clinical study]. / Az életkor jelentõsége malignus szájüregi daganatok prognózisakor. Klinikai vizsgálat.

The problem of malignant tumors developing in a young age is a topic of special importance and subject of intensive research. The occurrence of oral cavity tumors shows a decreasing trend worldwide, while the incidences of oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed at young adulthood is increasing. The etiology of tumors developing in young age is not yet fully understood, however, it can be stated that the usual high-risk behavioral patterns (i.e. smoking and alcohol abuse) play only a minor role in this patient group, if any. Our own observations indicate a higher regional and locoregional relapse for these patients and, although they turn for help early, at an early stage of the disease, a lower chance of survival. The target of our research was to analyze the differences in certain etiological, pathological and clinical parameters of our own patient group consisting of both young and older patients. The data of 105 young (<50 years) and, as a control group, 105 older (>50 years) patients were analyzed. The patients have undergone surgery and, if necessary, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The tumor-specific survival was determined at 36 months. Our study aimed at understanding the relationship between the clinical prognostic factors (stage, localization, anamnestic time), smoking habits, gender and age of the patients. Relationship between cancer occurrence (local, locoregional relapse) and survival rate, as well as age and survival rate were analyzed. We found that young patients report themselves for treatment at an early stage. Smoking and alcohol abuse were considerably less. When a relapse occurs, it occurs more frequently and earlier than at older patients. The most decisive correlation was observed between age and anamnestic time, age and number of cigarettes smoked, age and time elapsed until relapse, as well as age and cancer-specific survival. Moreover, cancer-specific survival of patients younger than 50 years of age was found significantly shorter than in the control group.