Search

The aim of this work was to defi ne nomograms and standards of fetal biometric parameters in the population of pregnant women in southwest region of Croatia. Study design and Methods. During the nine-year period from 1st January 2002 to 31st December 2010 ultrasound examination was performed on 1594 pregnant women with singleton uncomplicated pregnancy between 22nd and 41st gestation week. In total, 2728 ultrasound measurements were performed. Measurement were obtained for biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal circumference and the transverse cerebellar diameter. The results were presented as mean values with standard deviations and percentiles. Results. Normal fetal biometry charts for own population of pregnant women in the southwest region of Croatia were constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To create curves of three most commonly used biometric parameters for singleton pregnancies from 22 to 41 weeks of gestation in the County of Primorje-Gorski Kotar (Croatia) and to compare results with other studies. Methods. From January 2002 to December 2009, ultrasound examination was performed on fetuses of 1248 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy. Values for biparietal diameter, femur length, and fetal abdominal circumference were measured. Results were compared with studies pertaining to European and North American population. Mean, percentile scale, and Wilcoxon's matched pairs test were used. Regression analysis was applied to analyze data correlation and to determine correlation quotients. Results. Total of 2178 measurements for fetal biometry charts were performed. Established mean and centile values for fetal biometry parameters are reported numerically and graphically. Comparison of obtained values with values of identical fetal biometric parameters of other world populations has revealed statistically significant differences ( p < 0.01). Conclusion. Normal fetal biometry charts for population of pregnant women in the northern coastal region of Croatia were constructed. Due to existence of statistically significant differences in ultrasound fetal biometry values among various populations under comparison, construction of own charts and their implementation in routine obstetrical work are justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the prevalence of live birth Down syndrome (DS) in the region of Primorsko-goranska County (PGC) in Croatia from 1996 to 2005 and to evaluate the impact of second-trimester maternal serum screening (MSS) and amniocentesis on live birth DS prevalence. Methods Study was based on databases from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, the Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, and the Croatian National Institute of Public Health. The regional policy of prenatal diagnosis for DS includes amniocentesis for pregnant women aged 35 or over and MSS for younger women. We estimated live birth and total prevalence of DS and measured the proportion of pregnant women using MSS and amniocentesis. Trends of live birth and total prevalence of DS were tested by linear regression analysis. Results The live birth prevalence of DS was 1.4/1000 in the period 1996–2005. A decreasing, but nonsignificant, trend of prevalence was observed over time ( P = 0.577). Women aged 35 or over represented 11.6% of all pregnant women included in the study. The proportion of women who had MSS was 33.9%. The proportion who underwent amniocentesis was 6.1%. Conclusions No marked decrease in prevalence of live birth DS was observed in the region of PGC during the last 10 years. The usage of MSS and amniocentesis was too low to have any significant impact on live birth DS prevalence. Women’s, as well as physician’s, knowledge and attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis of DS should be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, several studies have addressed the issue of prenatal exposure to methylmercury (MeHg); however, few have actually analysed MeHg blood concentrations. Our study population included mothers and their new-borns from Slovenia (central region; N = 584) and Croatia (coastal region; N = 234). We have measurements of total Hg (THg) and MeHg in maternal hair, maternal peripheral blood, and cord blood. Cord blood Hg concentrations were low to moderate (median THg = 1.84 ng/g and MeHg = 1.69 ng/g). The proportion of THg as MeHg (%MeHg) in maternal and cord blood varied between 4% and 100% (coefficient of variation, CV = 32%) and between 8% and 100% (CV = 20%), respectively. Our data shows that variability of %MeHg was higher at lower blood THg levels. Concentrations of MeHg in maternal blood and cord blood were highly correlated (R s = 0.943), in the case of inorganic Hg correlation was significant but weaker (R s = 0.198). MeHg levels in maternal blood and cord blood were positively associated with seafood intake, maternal age, and negatively associated with pre-pregnancy BMI. Additionally, MeHg in maternal blood was positively associated with plasma selenium levels, and cord blood MeHg was negatively associated with parity. The results of multiple linear regression models showed that speciation analysis provides more defined estimation of prenatal exposure in association modelling. Associations between Hg exposure and cognitive performance of children (assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler development) adjusted for maternal or child Apolipoprotein E genotypes showed higher model R2 and lower p-values when adjusted for MeHg compared to THg. This study demonstrates that Hg speciation improves the association between exposure and possible negative health effects. • The variability of % Hg as MeHg substantially increases with lower levels of THg. • MeHg better predicts factors that affect blood concentrations of Hg. • Hg speciation improved models associating Hg exposure and neurodevelopment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies provide a detailed description of dietary habits during pregnancy, despite the central role of nutrition for the health of the mother and offspring. This paper describes the dietary habits, energy and nutrient intake in pregnant women from four countries belonging to the Mediterranean PHIME cohort (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and evaluates their adherence to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. A total of 1436 women were included in the present analysis. Maternal diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The mean macro and micronutrient intakes were estimated and compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs). The percentage distribution of the 16 food groups in the total intake of each macronutrient was estimated. All women shared a similar diet during pregnancy; almost all the women in the four countries exceeded the DRV for sugars, and the total fat intake was above the DRV in most women in all the countries, as was the contribution of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to the total energy intake. In all four countries, we observed an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency for iron, folate and vitamin D. Shared guidelines, implemented at both the national and European level, are essential to improve the maternal nutritional status during pregnancy.

Aim: To assess whether imminent amniocentesis is associated with the perception of increased stress and state anxiety in women and their partners and whether greater partner's involvement during pregnancy alleviates women's stress and anxiety., Methods: Two hundred twenty women awaiting amniocentesis and 90 male partners participated in the study. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Partner's Involvement in Pregnancy Scale were administered. Statistical analysis was performed using t test, one way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation test., Results: Imminent amniocentesis caused increased stress (17.6 +/- 6.8; t = 7.32, P < 0.001) and anxiety (42.0 +/- 11.9; t = 8.51, P < 0.001) in pregnant women, but not their partners (stress: 14.3 +/- 6.1; t = 0.17, P = 0.862; anxiety: 36.4 +/- 10.40; t = 0.66, P = 0.510). Stress was even more pronounced in women who experienced another stressor, like unplanned pregnancy, prenatal-related nausea and vomiting, or chromosomal aberration in a previous pregnancy. Significant negative correlation was found for women's stress and their perception of their partner's involvement during pregnancy (r = -0.23; P = 0.001); the same was not found for women's anxiety., Conclusion: Greater partner's involvement during pregnancy could diminish women's stress, but elevated state anxiety just before amniocentesis could not be alleviated in the same way. Thus, health care professionals must pay greater attention to the psychological status of women undergoing amniocentesis to help them better cope with the situation.

Objective: To analyse mortality of extremely low (ELBW) and very low (VLBW) birth weight nawborns at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Rijeka University Hospital, before, during and after implementing a model of regionalization of perinatal care. In Croatia this model is still not established so the results can help us evaluate whether the suggested model is practicable and whether its appliance decrease newborns' mortality., Patients and Methods: We compared early neonatal mortality (RNM), neonatal mortality (NM) and intrahospital mortality (MOB) of ELBW and VLBW newborns at the pediods before (1997-2000), during (2000-2001) and after (2003-2006) the implemented changes., Results: RNM was significantly lowered for both weight groups, but NM and MOB only for VLBW newborns., Conclusion: Our results show that appliance of regionalization of perinatal care is possible and unquestionable on local level, so it should be implemented on national level too.