Aims: The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to fetus and plays a central role in embryonic development. Abnormal growth of the placenta is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes. Preterm labor is one of the most important outcomes of placental abnormalities. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathology of placenta in Preterm labor and prediction of neonate’ s outcomes. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 118 placentas obtained from Preterm labor cases in Sarem women’ s hospital (Tehran, Iran) during one year. At least 3 specimens were taken from each placenta and stained with H& E and examined by pathologists, microscopically. The data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Findings: No pathological changes were found in 89. 5% of the placentas; however, 10. 0% of the placentas showed pathological changes. Three parameters, including syncytial knots, chorangiosis and microcalcification were the most effective variables on pathological results. Accordingly, increase of one unit in syncytial knot raise the chance of Preterm labor 0. 01 fold. Besides, the change in the amount of chorangiosis can increase the chance of Preterm labor 0. 252 fold and changes in Microcalcification can raise the chance for Preterm labor up to 0. 14 fold on average. Conclusion Syncytial knots, chorangiosis and microcalcification are the most effective pathological changes in the pathology of placenta in Preterm labor.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine some of the maternal risk factors that lead to Preterm delivery. Recognizing these risk factors makes it possible to prevent Preterm labors as the most frequent cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical research study. The data were collected from the recorded information in the files of mothers and Preterm neonates that had been born in Bahman 22nd and Shahrivar 17th Hospitals in Mashhad during 2007-2009. The case group consists of 360 Preterm deliveries (before week 37th of gestation). The control group consists of 360 term deliveries (after week 37th of gestation). In this study, some of the maternal risk factors leading to Preterm labor were taken into consideration. The criteria selected were: maternity age, previous abortions, number of previous pregnancies, preeclampsia, the number and gender of fetuses, diabetes and bacterial vaginitis. Also, UTI, the premature rupture of membrane (PROM) was extracted from the registration records. Using SPSS, the two groups were compared and the data were analyzed with the method of chi- square test.Results: In this study, the prevalence rate of Preterm labor was estimated as 6.1%. The findings suggest that maternal risk factors, such as diabetes, UTI, maternity age, the number of previous pregnancies and the gender of fetus did not cause any significant difference between the groups of the study, but we found significant p-value for the risk factors, such as bacterial vaginitis, PROM, preeclampsia, previous abortions, and the number of fetuses. Conclusion: We can reduce the incidence of Preterm labor as a result of which the rate of morbidity and mortality of Preterm neonates would decrease. This can be materialize  through early diagnosis and treatment of maternal genitourinary infections, prevention of premature rupture (PROM) and preeclampsia as well as preventing repeated abortions and iatrogenic multiple gestation with induction of ovulation.

Background & Aims: Using magnesium sulfate might prevent the seizure, it could lead to poisoning in the patient. The present study aims at evaluating the side effects of maternal magnesium sulfate consumption in pre-eclampsia on term and late-Preterm neonates. Materials & Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive analytical study. One hundred term (group 1) and 100 late-Preterm neonates (group 2) that were born in Shahid Motahari hospital of Urmia University of Medical Sciences from mothers with pre-eclampsia who had received magnesium sulfate, and as the control group, 100 neonates from mothers with pre-eclampsia who had not received magnesium sulfate (group 3) entered the study with easy and available sampling. Results: The mean duration of sulfate uptake in the first group was 8. 96± 9. 80 days and in the second group was 27. 66± 15. 23 days and this difference was significant (p = 0. 035). In the first group, 94 infants (94%), in the second group, 21 infants (21%), and in the third group, 64 infants (64%) did not need breathing support, which showed a significant difference between the groups (p <0. 001). The first and fifth minute Apgar scores were significantly lower in the second group than in the first group and control, but this difference was not significant (p >0. 05). Conclusion: The findings of the present study depicted that magnesium sulfate administered for preeclampsia does not lead to neonates’ hypotonia, more admission days in the ward or NICU, and low Apgar scores.

With respect to the existing controversy about relation between fasting and Preterm labor study was done among pregnant women referred to four maternity hospitals in kermanshah province from 1995 to 1998.The subjects of this case-control study included 506 women; 36 of them (case) had Preterm labor and 470 had term labor (control) which with respect to age, weight, parity, kind of previous delivery and socioeconomic status were all compatible. The subjects were closely studied with respect to fasting during pregnancy, and their newly born infants' weight. Then the data was analyzed with an appropriate kind of statistical method.The analysis of the collected data didn't reveal a statistically significant difference with regard to the age, weight, parity, kind of previous delivery and socio-economic status in both groups (NS). 49.4% of subjects with term labors were fasting and this figure for those with Preterm labor was 58.3% (NS). 27.5% of infants in the control group and 72.5% of the infants in the case group were low birth weight showing statistically significant difference (P<0.05).This study showed fasting does not have any relation with Preterm labor. Nevertheless, infants of the subjects in the case group were lighter than those of control group. Since one of the limitations of the present study has been lack of control of the subjects diet, it is recommended to take this issue into consideration in future studies.