Ginger is more effective than placebo for the treatment of mild to moderate NVP and is comparable with vitamin B6. Trial registration number and registry website: IRCT2015020320923N1.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of evening primrose oil (EvPO) on the duration of pregnancy and labour. The study was performed as a triple blind placebo controlled randomised clinical trial on nulliparous low-risk women with a certain gestational age of 40 weeks of pregnancy and a Bishop score of less than 4. In the case group (EvPO group), EvPO capsules were administered, 1000 mg, twice daily, for 7 days, and in the control group, placebo was administered similarly. The women of the two groups were followed up to delivery. In total, 80 women finished the study (40 in each group). The women of the two groups did not have significant differences according to age, BMI, Bishop Score at the beginning of the study, gestational age at entering the study, employment status and education level, the number of capsules used and duration of using medications. There was no significant difference between the two groups according to gestational age at delivery, need for induction or augmentation of labour, duration of different stages of labour, neonatal weight and Apgar scores, and the indications for hospital admission. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Evening primrose oil has been used for the treatment of systemic disorders, which are accompanied with chronic inflammation such as atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Also, it has been proposed for some women's health conditions including breast pain (mastalgia), symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms, cervical ripening and induction or augmentation of labour. What do the results of this study add? Evening primrose oil does not have any impact on Bishop Score and the duration of different stages of labour. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? According to the present study and the other performed studies, there is not enough evidence confirming effectiveness of Evening primrose oil for cervical ripening and duration of labour. It is suggested that pending further data its usage should be limited to experimental RCTs and its use in clinical practice should be prevented. Also, different routes of administration and different dosages should be investigated.

Administration of MgSO4 for a duration of 12 h after delivery should be considered somehow as effective as 24 h prescription for preventing convulsion after delivery.

Cu supplementation during pregnancy could not influence positively on ROM; however, it could improve some mood status of the women.

The study was performed on pregnant women with a gestational age of 26-32 weeks of pregnancy, who had been admitted to the hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes. In all eligible women, ultrasounds were performed for the evaluation of amniotic fluid index. Then, the women were divided into two groups according to amniotic fluid index of ≥5 cm and <5 cm. These women were followed and monitored up to delivery. The women of the two groups did not have significant difference between them according to age, gestational age at the time of ruptured membrane, body mass index, gravidity, parity, gestational age at delivery and route of delivery. Maternal morbidities including chorioamnionitis, placental abruption, uterine atony after delivery and retention of placenta did not show significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups' amniotic fluid index <5 cm and amniotic fluid index ≥5 cm, regarding neonatal morbidities, except for neonatal sepsis and neonatal death, which were higher in the amniotic fluid index <5 cm group [7(14.6%) versus 1(2.3%), p = .039, RR = 7.7 (95%CI 0.04-0.06) and 11(30.9%) versus 2(4.7%), p = .013, RR = 6.095 (95%CI = 1.26-29.31)]. In the subgroups of two categories of gestational ages of 26-29 and 30-34, neonatal morbidities were higher in the amniotic fluid index <5 cm group. The results suggest that amniotic fluid index <5 cm should be considered as a warning sign for predicting poor prognosis of pregnancy complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? In a retrospective study in 1993, the relationship between oligohydramnios (which was defined as the largest single packet of fluid less than 2 × 2 cm) at the time of hospital admission, and the outcome of mother, foetus and neonates in a gestational age of less than 35 weeks of pregnancy was evaluated. In the oligohydramnios group, chorioamnionitis and funistis were more common. Also, the mean gestational age at the time of delivery and neonatal weight was less than that of the normal amniotic fluid group. According to these results, it was concluded that a low amniotic fluid volume in the women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) can be considered as a prognostic factor in the cases of conservative management of PPROM. In contrast, the other study, which was performed on a larger sample size (290 patients), could not show more cases of amnionitis in the cases of amniotic fluid index (AFI) of less than 5 cm; however, the latency period was shorter in comparison with AFI of more than 5 cm. What do the results of this study add? Chorioamnionitis, placental abruption and uterine atony after delivery, retention of placenta and route of delivery did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), need of surfactant and intubation, intra ventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and duration of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission did not show ...

NAC can improve lipid profile and fasting blood sugar (FBS) and fasting blood insulin better than metformin.

No abstract

The aim of the present study was to find the relationship between pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) with spontaneous preterm delivery and birth weight. A prospective cohort study was performed on 576 pregnant women. Maternal BMI was determined at the first prenatal visit between 8-12 weeks' gestation and considered as the pre-pregnancy maternal weight. The women were then monitored up to delivery. Out of 576 women, 396 completed the study. The demographics of the women in all BMI groups did not differ with regard to age, height, history of abortion and employment. A total of 21 women (5.3%) were underweight; 198 women (50%) were normal weight; 117 women (29.5%) were overweight and 60 (15.2%) were obese. There were no cases of morbidly obese (BMI > 40 kg/m(2)) women. Obesity in women had a positive correlation with higher gestational age at the time of delivery (r = 0.213, p = 0.015) and a heavier birth weight (r = 0.361, p = 0.008). Low birth weight had a correlation with low maternal BMI (r = 0.157, p = 0.041). Macrosomia was greater in obese women (p = 0.022) and BMI had a positive correlation with macrosomia (r = 0.224, p = 0.034). Preterm delivery showed a negative correlation with maternal BMI (r = -0.124, p = 0.004) and the women with a lower BMI had a greater number of preterm deliveries (p = 0.035).