Neonatal jaundice is a common physiological problem affecting over half of all full term and most preterm infants. Thus, newborn infants must be monitored for signs of hyperbilirubinemia to prevent acute bilirubin encephalopathy or kernicterus. Evidence exists supporting the benefits of baby massage as a form of mild hand to skin contact, to increase neonatal physical and mental development. In the present study, the effects of gentle baby massage on neonatal jaundice in full term newborn infants were evaluated by a controlled clinical trial. The inclusion criteria of newborn neonates were as follows: (1) gestational age of 37 ~ 41 weeks, (2) birth weight of 2,800 ~ 3,600 g, (3) Apgar score at birth of 8 ~ 10, and (4) being a healthy neonate without neonatal asphyxia and hemolytic condition. Breastfed newborns without phototherapy were included: 20 in the massage group and 22 in the control group. We found the mean stool frequency of the massaged infants on day 1 and day 2 (4.6 and 4.3) was significantly higher than that of the control group (3.3 and 2.6) (p < 0.05). The transcutaneous bilirubin levels on the second to fifth day and serum total bilirubin levels on fourth day were significantly decreased in the massage group, compared to the control group. In conclusion, baby massage at an early stage after birth could reduce neonatal bilirubin levels. We suggest baby massage is beneficial for ameliorating neonatal jaundice.

Seventeen women with recurrent fetal loss associated with anti-phospholipid antibody were treated by prednisolone and low-dose aspirin (PSL/ASP) therapy from the early gestational period. The success rate of pregnancy in the treated patients was significantly higher than that in 12 untreated patients of similar background, including age, number of previous fetal losses and anti-cardiolipin titre (76.5 versus 8.3%, P less than 0.01). The degree of fetal growth retardation evident in previous pregnancies was also improved by the therapy, suggesting that PSL/ASP itself has a beneficial effect against placental damage. These clinical improvements were accompanied by a reduction in anti-phospholipid antibody titre, especially that of anti-phosphatidylserine antibody (anti-PS), to within the normal range within 8 weeks after PSL/ASP administration in most of the treated patients. There was no reduction of antibody titre in the untreated patients during pregnancy. It was concluded that PSL/ASP therapy, when started in the early gestational period (prior to 8 weeks gestation), was effective for the achievement of successful pregnancy and the prevention of fetal growth retardation and that the anti-PS titre was a good clinical marker for evaluating the effect of PSL/ASP therapy.

The objectives of this study were to characterize spiral artery flow velocity waveforms in normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension and/or intrauterine growth retardation, and to examine the diagnostic potential for predicting adverse perinatal outcomes in complicated pregnancies compared with uterine and umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms. In this cross-sectional study, 160 normal and 43 complicated pregnancies were assessed by color and pulsed Doppler during 18-41 weeks of gestation. Flow velocity waveforms were obtained from the spiral, uterine and fetal umbilical arteries. In normal pregnancies, the resistance index of spiral artery flow velocity waveforms decreased significantly with advancing gestation (r = -0.256, p < 0.001). In abnormal pregnancies complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension and/or intrauterine growth retardation, the incidence of adverse perinatal outcome was significantly higher in patients with abnormal spiral artery resistance indices than in patients with normal spiral artery resistance indices (p < 0.001). An abnormal spiral artery resistance index had a better diagnostic accuracy for adverse perinatal outcome (sensitivity 85.0%, specificity 91.3%, positive predictive value 89.5%, negative predictive value 87.5%, accuracy 88.4%) when compared with the resistance index of uterine and umbilical artery waveforms and presence of a diastolic notch of the uterine artery waveform. Color flow imaging facilitates the precise analysis of spiral artery flow velocity waveforms and provides more accurate information about the uteroplacental circulation in the evaluation of placental function.

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Twelve patients with recurrent abortion who had shown positive antiphospholipid antibodies were treated through the administration of a Japanese modified traditional Chinese herbal medicine Sairei-To (Chan ling-Tang) The patients had experienced a total of 27 spontaneous abortions in their previous pregnancies and had no other pregnancy history except for one patient. The patients were treated with 9.0 g of Sairei-To per day before their next pregnancy. The positive value of antiphospholipid antibodies returned to negative in 9 patients out of 12 patients through the treatment. Out of 12 patients, in 10 patients, their new pregnancy continued uneventfully and delivered an offspring (Success rate: 83.3%). Thus, the current treatment was considered to be an effective therapy for patients with recurrent abortion who were found to be positive for antiphospholipid antibodies.