Search

Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise during pregnancy on the intensity of low back pain and kinematics of spine.Method: A prospective randomized study was designed. 107 women participated in an exercise program three times a week during second half of pregnancy for 12 weeks and 105 as control group. All filled a questionnaire between 17-22 weeks of gestation and 12 weeks later for assessment of their back pain intensity. Lordosis and flexibility of spine were measured by Flexible ruler and Side bending test, respectively, at the same times. Weight gain during pregnancy, Pregnancy length and neonatal weight were recorded.Result: Low back pain intensity was increased in the control group. The exercise group showed significant reduction in the intensity of low back pain after exercise (p<0.0001). Flexibility of spine decreased more in the exercise group (p<0.0001). Weight gain during pregnancy, pregnancy length and neonatal weight were not different between the two groups.Conclusion: Exercise during second half of the pregnancy significantly reduced the intensity of low back pain, had no detectable effect on lordosis and had significant effect on flexibility of spine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether concentrations of beta-HCG in cervicovaginal secretions could predict spontaneous preterm birth (SPB) in asymptomatic high risk pregnancies.Methods: A cohort study was undertaken with cervicovaginal samples collected from 540 pregnant women between 20 to 28 weeks of gestation. Levels of beta-HCG were measured by ELISA test.Results: There was 3.2-fold increase in cervicovaginal beta-HCG concentrations among patients with SPB vs. term delivery. A single cervicovaginal beta-HCG > 77.8 mIU/ml, between 20 and 28 weeks' gestation, identified patients with subsequent SPB vs. term delivery with sensitivity of 87.5% (95% CI: 47.4-97.9) and a specificity of 97% (95% CI: 86.5-99.4) with positive and negative predictive values of 88.5% and 98%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression indicates that cervicovaginal beta-HCG level > 77.8 mIU/ml was an independent predictor of SPB (adjusted odds ratio 19.97, 95% CI: 10.65-37.45).Conclusions: Cervicovaginal beta-HCG is a sensitive and specific predictor of patients with subsequent preterm delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]