Health problems can develop during a pregnancy, turning it into a high risk. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth as risk factors for health-related quality of life (HRQL) and depressive symptoms during late pregnancy and postpartum. A prospective, longitudinal study was performed with three assessments. Ninety women were recruited in the study including 29 controls. HRQL was measured using the WHO-QOL-BREF questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and the chi-square test to explore HRQL and depressive symptoms between three pregnancy risk groups and controls. Women of the preterm group had statistically significant higher depression scores and lower HRQL scores on the physical domain during pregnancy than those without complications. Women with hypertensive disorders showed the second most depressive symptoms. Physical and global HRQL improved and depressive symptoms decreased significantly from late pregnancy and early postpartum period to late postpartum. Pregnant specific health problems, especially the risk for preterm delivery is associated with more depressive symptoms and decreased HRQL in pregnancy. Guidance and communication for these women is important. The counseling should be multi professional to reduce childbirth burdens.
Summary: Purpose: To acquire normative data of the hippocampus and its postnatal growth in SO children (age, 1 month to IS years) without epilepsy.Methods: Morphometry of the hippocampus was carried out by using a spoiled FLASH 3D sequence (sagittal orientation), whereas the volume of the brain was assessed with a TIweighted spin-echo sequence (transverse orientation). The volume of the hippocampus and the brain was determined by following Cavalieri's principle. Growth curves of the brain and hippocampus were fitted to a nonlinear Boltzmann sigmoidal equation.Results: lntra-tinterobserver coefficient of variation was 2.01 4.9% for hippocampal volume measurements and 2.0/2. I % for brain volumetry. A significant difference in volume was noted between the right and left hippocampus (p < 0.001), with the right side being larger on average by 0. I0 cc. Correlation coefficients of growth curves ranged between 0.71 and 0.94. Growth curves demonstrated a faster development of the hippocampus in girls. A steeper slope of hippocampal growth as compared with brain growth was found in girls, whereas in boys, the slope of brain growth was steeper.Conclusions: Our findings will be of help in evaluating vulnerable phases of the hippocampal formation with accelerated growth, thereby leading to a better understanding of the development of hippocampal sclerosis in early childhood.
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