Maternal Effects of Immediate versus Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping: A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin variation after cord clamping. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial performed in Porto Alegre, RS from January to December 2012. It was included 356 women with habitual risk gestations. In the immediate cord clamping group, the umbilical cord section was realized between 0 and 60 s (group 1) while in the delayed cord clamping group it was realized >60 s (group 2). RESULTS: The mean (±standard deviation [SD]) preoperative hemoglobin was 12.13 ± 1.06 in the group 1 and 12.13 ± 1.11 in the group 2. The mean (±SD) postoperative day 2 hemoglobin level was 10.19 ± 1.46 in the group 1 and 10.24 ± 1.42 in the group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed umbilical cord clamping resulted in a similar maternal hemoglobin level reduction at postoperative day 2.

Risk factors for autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)is a high genetic heterogeneity neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social,communicative,and behavioral deficits.However,there are very few studies thus far addressing risk factors for ASD in China children.This case-control study aims to investigate whether various risk factors especially cesarean section,epidural analgesia during labor,immediate cord clamping at birth were associated with the risk of having an offspring with ASD.There were 50 children with ASD(age 34.76±7.78 months)and 150 normal children(age 33.76±6.73 months)enrolled in this study.The risk of developing ASD in these children included cesarean section(RR=3.512,95%confidence interval(CI)=1.162–10.620),anesthesia for pain relief(RR=3.387,95%CI=1.160–9.891),early cord clamping(RR=19.062,95%CI=3.894–93.0304),gender of boy(RR=3.530,95%CI=1.223–10.188).Further research is needed to determine whether such factors have a causal link to ASD.