Results of a HOVON/SAKK donor versus no-donor analysis of myeloablative HLAidentical sibling stem cell transplantation in first remission acute myeloid leukemia in young and middle-aged adults: benefits for whom?

BackgroundExposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy leads to several adverse effects on mother and child. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of being a passive smoker during pregnancy on vitamin D level and related biochemical indices including parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in mothers and newborns.MethodsOne hundred eight pregnant women and their newborns participated in a historical cohort study in two equal groups (n = 54) with and without cigarette smoke exposure. Maternal blood and urine samples and blood samples of umbilical cord were obtained in the delivery room. Concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and related biochemical indices in samples of maternal and cord blood were investigated. Exposure to cigarette smoke was evaluated through questionnaire and maternal urine and umbilical cord serum cotinine levels.ResultsThe mean level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in maternal serum was 9.28 ± 5.19 ng/mlin exposed and 10.75 ± 5.26 ng/ml in non-exposed group(p > 0.05). The mean concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in cord serum was 10.83 ± 6.68 ng/ml in the exposed and 11.05 ± 4.99 ng/ml in the non-exposed group(p > 0.05). The exposed mothers had significantly higher parathyroid hormone level (p = 0.013), lower serum calcium (p = 0.024) and higher serum alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.024). There was a significant correlation between maternal and umbilical cord serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D within both exposed and non-exposed groups (p < 0.001).ConclusionMaternal exposure to cigarette smoking during pregnancy negatively influences serum calcium level and increase parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase in mothers.

Passive smoking during pregnancy leads to adverse effects on mother and infant. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the association between maternal reported passive smoking with the cotinine concentration of maternal urine and umbilical cord blood at delivery and to determine the accuracy of maternal reporting of exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy. This was a cross-sectional study. From the 108 non-smoker pregnant women who were referred for delivery, 54 were passive smokers. Urine samples were collected from the mothers in the delivery room and blood samples after birth were taken from the umbilical cord. Passive smoking was evaluated through questionnaire and cotinine level of urine and umbilical cord blood. The geometric mean cotinine concentration of the maternal urine and the umbilical cord serum were, respectively, 27.4 ± 29.96 ng/mL and 3.71 ± 1.22 ng/mL in the exposed group (P < 0.001) and 0.75 ± 2.29 and 0.40 ± 0.63 in the non-exposed group (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between maternal urinary and umbilical cord serum level of cotinine (P < 0.001, r = 0.58). Significant associations were shown between maternal reports of exposure to cigarette smoking with cotinine level of urine (kappa = 96%) and umbilical cord (kappa = 98%) (P < 0.001). This study shows that the pregnant woman's report of passive smoking during pregnancy in Iran is accurate. The questionnaire is an appropriate method to evaluate smoke exposure and could replace cotinine measurement.