Effect of dexamethasone on daily fetal movement, umbilical and middle cerebral arteries Doppler and cardiotocogram

Background: Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal death and disability and is an important public health problem globally. There is more work to be done regarding steroids effect, especially with the variations among demography and pathological conditions affecting mothers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dexamethasone on healthy fetuses, observing the effects on MCA and UA Doppler velocity waveforms and cardiotocography, correlating them with fetal movement.Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital, starting from April 2020 till December 2020. One hundred and ten women was recruited for the study. All women undergo elective cesarean section before 39 weeks of gestation. UA and MCA Doppler values were taken; nonstress test was recorded and fetal movements were counted after a single course of dexamethasone.Results: Our results included decrease in MCA PI, decrease in foetal movement count on the second day of dexamethasone injection, increase of short-term variability and direct correlation between the MCA RI and UA PI with the fetal movements decrease on the 5th day of dexamethasone injection.Conclusions: There are definitely cardiovascular changes that occur after dexamethasone administration, presented by increase in MCA blood flow and increase in FHR short term variability.

Tackling Stunting and Anemia in Egypt

Stunting and anemia rates in children between the age of 0-24 months (0-2 years) have been two of the most persistent public health problems facing the Egyptian society and government. Based on the researchers\u27 analysis of the problem, current policies, and on the opportunities Egypt has, this policy paper targets the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population and recommends reformulating a specific nutrition policy to tackle stunting and anemia as well providing awareness and education about the appropriate IYCF and to give high priority to strengthening the health provision of the required micronutrients in family care units (FCU), as well as creating supportive and enabling environments for the caregivers to follow the appropriate practices

معالجة التقزم وفقر الدم في مصر

Stunting and anemia rates in children between the age of 0-24 months (0-2 years) have been two of the most persistent public health problems facing the Egyptian society and government. Based on the researchers\u27 analysis of the problem, current policies, and on the opportunities Egypt has, this policy paper targets the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population and recommends reformulating a specific nutrition policy to tackle stunting and anemia as well providing awareness and education about the appropriate IYCF and to give high priority to strengthening the health provision of the required micronutrients in family care units (FCU), as well as creating supportive and enabling environments for the caregivers to follow the appropriate practices

The impact of music therapy on anxiety and pregnancy rate among infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of music therapy on anxiety and pregnancy rates among infertile women undergoing to perform assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, ISI web of science, and Scopus were searched from inception to May 2021. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared music therapy (intervention group) to no music intervention (control group). Our primary outcomes were anxiety score using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) tool and pain score utilizing the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Our secondary outcomes were the overall satisfaction score and clinical pregnancy rate. We extracted the available data from included studies and pooled them in a meta-analysis model using RevMan software. The overall quality of evidence was assessed through GRADEpro GDT software. Results: Seven RCTs with a total number of 793 patients were included in our study. Music therapy significantly reduced the anxiety score compared to control group (MD= −3.09, 95% CI [−5.57, −0.61], p = 0.01). Moreover, pain score was significantly improved after music treatment (MD= −2.93, 95% CI [−3.86, −2.00], p > 0.001). A significant improvement in the overall satisfaction score was found among music therapy group (MD= 1.51, 95% CI [0.40, 2.61], p = 0.008). Although more women in music therapy group experienced an increase in the clinical pregnancy rate in comparison with control group, the result was not statistically significant (RR= 1.08, 95% CI [0.94, 1.26], p = 0.28). The GRADEpro GDT tool showed a moderate quality of evidence for the evaluated outcomes. Conclusions: There is evidence of moderate quality that music therapy improves anxiety, pain, and satisfaction scores among infertile women undergoing ART. Moreover, it increases the clinical pregnancy rate but without statistical significance. More trials with a larger sample size are needed to investigate the influence of music therapy on the clinical outcomes of ART