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Umbilical cord abnormalities increase fetal morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to compare antenatal umbilical coiling index (aUCI) in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-gestational diabetes mellitus (non-GDM) pregnancy, considering uncertainties about the best time to perform antenatal ultrasonography scan.

We are not aware of any study examining the effects of long term vitamin D administration on regression and metabolic status of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1). This study was performed to evaluate the effects of long-term vitamin D administration on regression and metabolic status of patients with CIN1. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed among 58 women diagnosed with CIN1. CIN1 diagnosis was performed based on specific diagnostic procedures of biopsy, pathological diagnosis, and colposcopy. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups to take 50,000 IU vitamin D3 supplements (n= 29) or placebo (n= 29) every 2 weeks for 6 months. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning of the study and end-of-trial to measure related markers. After 6 months of vitamin D administration, greater percentage of women in the vitamin D group had regressed CIN1 (84.6 vs. 53.8%, P= 0.01) than those in the placebo group. Long-term vitamin D supplementation increased serum-25(OH) vitamin D levels in the intervention group compared to the placebo group (+12.3 ± 11.4 vs. -0.1 ± 3.7 ng/mL, P< 0.001). In addition, vitamin D intake led to significant decreases in serum insulin levels (−5.3 ± 7.3 vs. +2.4 ± 5.9 μIU/mL, P< 0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (−1.2 ± 1.6 vs. +0.5 ± 1.2, P< 0.001), homeostatic model assessment-Beta cell function (P= 0.005) and a significant elevation in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.03 ± 0.04 vs. -0.007 ± 0.02, P< 0.001) compared with the placebo group. Additionally, significant increases in plasma nitric oxide (NO) (+15.5 ± 10.3 vs. +4.0 ± 13.4 μmol/L, P= 0.001), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (P= 0.04), total glutathione (GSH) (+11.8 ± 153.5 vs. -294.2 ± 595.1 μmol/L, P= 0.01) and a significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (−0.8 ± 1.0 vs. -0.03 ± 1.4 μmol/L, P= 0.03) were observed following the administration of vitamin D supplements compared with the placebo group. In conclusion, vitamin D3 administration for 6 months among women with CIN1 resulted in its regression and had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism, plasma NO, TAC, GSH and MDA levels. Clinical trial registration numberwww.irct.ir: IRCT201412065623N30.

The -adrenergic blocker propranolol, which causes contractions of the pregnant uterine muscles, is one of the agents proposed for advancing cervical ripening when used in combination with oxytocin. This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial compared oxytocin induction with combined oxytocin and propranolol in 150 nulliparous women at 39 to 41 weeks’ gestation, whose Bishop score was 5 or less. All had singleton pregnancies, cephalic presentation, and intact membranes. Oxytocin alone was given to 75 women, while 2 mg of propranolol was additionally injected slowly intravenously to the other 75 before starting oxytocin. Women in the 2 treatment groups were similar in age, gestational age, primary Bishop score, and neonatal weight.

The article features research "Effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point (SP) on the process of active phase of labor in nulliparas women," in Tehran, Iran. About 120 expectant women, ages between 18 and 35, were randomly assigned to two groups, wherein one group received acupressure and the other received simple touch at the beginning of active phase of labor. Researchers found that those women who received acupressure had reduced labor, pain and delivery time compared to the other group.