Linda M. Szymanski

Exercise During Pregnancy Fetal Responses to Current Public Health Guidelines

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate acute fetal responses to individually prescribed exercise according to existing guidelines (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) in active and inactive pregnant women. METHODS: Forty-five healthy pregnant women (15 nonexercisers, 15 regularly active, 15 highly active) were tested between 28 0/7 and 32 6/7 weeks of gestation. After a treadmill test to volitional fatigue, target heart rates were calculated for two subsequent 30-minute treadmill sessions: 1) moderate intensity (40–59% heart rate reserve); and 2) vigorous intensity (60–84%). All women performed the moderate test; only active women performed the vigorous test. Fetal well-being measures included umbilical artery Dopplers, fetal heart tracing and rate, and biophysical profile. Measures were obtained at rest and immediately postexercise. RESULTS: Groups were similar in age, body mass index, and gestational age. Maternal resting heart rate in the highly active group (61.6±7.2 beats per minute [bpm]) was significantly lower than the nonexercise (79.0±11.6 bpm) and regularly active (71.9±7.4 bpm) groups (P<.001). Treadmill time was longer in highly active (22.3±2.9 minutes) than regularly active (16.6±3.4) and nonexercise (12.1±3.6) groups (P<.001), reflecting higher fitness. With moderate exercise, all umbilical artery Doppler indices were similar pre-exercise and postexercise among groups. With vigorous exercise, Dopplers were similar in regularly and highly active women with statistically significant decreases postexercise (P<.05). The group×time interaction was not significant. Postexercise fetal heart tracings met criteria for reactivity within 20 minutes after all tests. Biophysical profile scores were reassuring. CONCLUSION: This study supports existing guidelines indicating pregnant women may begin or maintain an exercise program at moderate (inactive) or vigorous (active) intensities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Estrogen replacement therapy and coagulation: Relationship to lipid and lipoprotein changes

Objective: To examine the relationship of estrogen-induced changes in lipids and lipoproteins with alterations in the coagulation system. Methods: Coagulation and lipid indices were measured in 31 postmenopausal women, ages 40–60 years, after a 3-month course of 0.625-mg conjugated equine estrogen. We analyzed changes in variables from baseline to 3 months using t tests for paired samples or the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Results: Unopposed estrogen replacement therapy produced statistically significant decreases in antithrombin-III antigen (P = .006) and activity (P = .001) and total protein S (P = .003) and a significant increase in protein C antigen (P = .017). C4b-binding protein also decreased significantly from baseline to 3 months (P Conclusions: Although several estrogen-induced changes may decrease atherosclerotic potential and hypercoagulability, others may promote coagulability. These divergent effects may be manipulated pharmacologically by other estrogen compounds or by the addition of various progestins.

Physical Examination–indicated Cerclage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of physical examination–indicated cerclage in the setting of second-trimester cervical dilatation by systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between 1966 and 2014 that evaluated cervical cerclage for the treatment of cervical insufficiency. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: The search yielded 6,314 citations. We included cohort studies and randomized controlled trials comparing cerclage placement with expectant management of women with cervical dilatation between 14 and 27 weeks of gestation. Two investigators independently reviewed each citation for inclusion or exclusion and discordant decisions were arbitrated by a third reviewer. Summary estimates were reported as the mean difference and 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous variables or relative risk and with 95% CI for dichotomous outcomes. Fixed- and random-effects meta-analysis was used, depending on heterogeneity. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Ten studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. One was a randomized controlled trial, two were prospective cohort studies, and the remaining seven were retrospective cohort studies. Of the 757 women, 485 (64%) underwent physical examination–indicated cerclage placement and 272 (36%) were expectantly managed. Cerclage was associated with increased neonatal survival (71% compared with 43%; relative risk 1.65, 95% CI 1.19–2.28) and prolongation of pregnancy (mean difference 33.98 days, 95% CI 17.88–50.08). CONCLUSION: Physical examination–indicated cerclage is associated with a significant increase in neonatal survival and prolongation of pregnancy of approximately 1 month when compared with no such cerclage. The strength of this conclusion is limited by the potential for bias in the included studies.

Self‐regulation of exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation participants

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if Phase III‐IV cardiac rehabilitation participants could accurately self‐monitor exercise intensity through the use of the heart rate (HR) palpation technique and the rating of perceived exertion scale (RPE) during their typical exercise routine and to determine if participants were exercising within their prescribed target heart rate (THR) range. Methods One hundred and sixty‐one (119 men, 42 women) cardiac rehabilitation participants (age = 64.8 ± 9.2 years) each performed their usual exercise routine on aerobic equipment for 20 min, while wearing a HR monitor. At 10 and 15min of exercise, participants reported their 10‐s palpated HR and RPE rating. Results No significant differences were found between mean palpated HRmin10 (100.8 ±18.6 beats per minute (BPM) and mean actual HRmin10 (102.7 ± 17.1 BPM) or mean palpated HRmin15 (105.9 ±19.2 BPM) and mean actual HRmin15 (106.4 ± 18.4 BPM). The correlations between actual HR and palpated HR at 10 and 15 mi...

Both Atenolol and Propranolol Blunt the Fibrinolytic Response to Exercise But Not Resting Fibrinolytic Potential

This randomized, double-blind trial found that tissue plasminogen activator activity increased and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity decreased significantly more with exercise during placebo treatment than during treatment with beta blockade. These results suggest that beta blockade blunts the fibrinolytic response to maximal exercise.

Post-loop electrosurgical excision procedure sepsis in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected woman.

BACKGROUND: Squamous intraepithelial lesions are more prevalent in women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared with immunocompetent women. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is commonly used to treat squamous intraepithelial lesions because it may be performed as an outpatient procedure with minimal blood loss and a low complication rate. CASE: We report a major infectious post-LEEP complication in an HIV-infected female who had an uneventful LEEP in which a cellulose hemostatic agent was used. Despite the severity of the infection, she was successfully treated with a minor surgical procedure along with broad antibiotic coverage. CONCLUSION: Although a cellulose hemostatic agent contaminated with perineal secretions may have served as a nidus for infection, use of perioperative antibiotics or cervical cleansing should be considered to prevent sepsis in immunocompromised hosts.