Objective To assess capacity to develop routine monitoring of maternal healthin the European Union using indicators of maternal mortality and severe morbidity. Design Analysis of aggregate data from routine statistical systems compiled by the EURO-PERISTAT project and comparison with data from national enquiries. Setting Twenty-five countries in the European Union and Norway. Population Women giving birth in participating countries in 2003 and 2004. Methods Application of a common collection of data by selecting specific International Classification of Disease codes from the ŽPregnancy, childbirth and the puerperiumʼ chapter. External validity was assessed by reviewing the results of national confidential enquiries and linkage studies. Main outcome measures Maternal mortality ratio, with distribution of specific obstetric causes, and severe acute maternal morbidity, which included: eclampsia, surgery and blood transfusion for obstetric haemorrhage, and intensive-care unit admission. Results In 22 countries that provided data, the maternal mortality ratio was 6.3 per 100 000 live births overall andranged from 0 to 29.6. Under-ascertainment was evident from comparisons with studies that use enhanced identification of deaths. Furthermore, routine cause of death registration systems in countries with specific systems for audit reported higher maternal mortality ratio than those in countries withoutaudits. For severe acute maternal morbidity, 16 countries provided dataabout at least one category of morbidity, and only three provided data forall categories. Reported values ranged widely (from 0.2 to 1.6 women with eclampsia per 1000 women giving birth and from 0.2 to 1.0 hysterectomies per 1000 women). Conclusions Currently available data on maternal mortality and morbidity are insufficient for monitoring trends over time in Europe and for comparison between countries. Confidential enquiries into maternal deaths are recommended.
F.01 Acquisition of new practical knowledge, information and skills
COBISS.SI-ID: 199340Children's bloodlead concentration (BPb) is well studied, but little is known about cadmium (BCd) and mercury (BHg), in particular for central Europe. Such information is necessary for risk assessment and management. Therefore, we here describe and compare BPb, BCd and BHg in children in six European, and three nonEuropean cities, and identify determinants of these exposures. About 50 school children (7–14 years) from each city were recruited (totally 433) in 2007–2008. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained. A blood sample was analyzed: only two laboratories with strict quality control were used. The European cities showed only minor differences for BCd (geometric means 0.11–0.17 μg/L) and BPb (14–20 μg/L), but larger for BHg (0.12–0.94 μg/L). Corresponding means for the nonEuropean countries were 0.21–0.26, 32–71, and 0.3–3.2 μg/L, respectively. For BCd in European samples, traffic intensity close to home was a statistically significant determinant, for BHg fish consumption and amalgam fillings, and for BPb sex (boys higher). This study shows that European city children's BCd and BPb vary only little between countries; BHg differs considerably, due to varying tooth restoration practices and fish intake. Traffic intensity seemed to be a determinant for BCd. The metal concentrations were low from a risk perspective but the chosen non European cities showed higher concentrations than the cities in Europe.
F.01 Acquisition of new practical knowledge, information and skills
COBISS.SI-ID: 25537575This handbook covers the issues of mental distress experienced by pregnant women and women in the postnatal period. It is designed not only for women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and young mothers, their partners and family members but also for healthcare professionals who come into contact with them. It represents the most common forms of mental distress during pregnancy and early motherhood (depression, anxiety, PTSD) and suggests prevention, alleviation, support and coping mechanisms when mental distress appears. The handbook shows the paths toward satisfaction and competent motherhood. The handbook is much needed in Slovenia, as its comprehensive and optimistic theme reveals the subject which remains a taboo in our society. It promotes the health of a family in the making and encourages networking among different health care professionals.
F.22 Improvement to existing health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 243456000In work packages of the research program 10 doctoral theses has been completed: 1. Miha Lučovnik: Neutrophil defensins but not interleukin6 in vaginal fluid after preterm premature rupture of membranes predict fetal/neonatal inflammation and infant neurological impairment. COBISS.SIID 263362304 2. KRNJAK, Ljuba. Prognostic meaning of protein S100B and of his type S100BB as indicators for assessment demages of brain at injuries of head. COBISS.SIID 255863552 3. ČERNE, Jasmina Živa. Influence of some risk factors and of hormone replacement therapy use on breast cancer risk. COBISS.SIID 256971520 4. KORNHAUSERCERAR, Lilijana. Influence of the body position on oxygen saturation and respiratory patterns during sleep in healthy term newborns. COBISS.SIID 251577856 5. FELEŽORŽ, Gašper. A comparison of various linear and nonlinear signal processing techniques to separate uterine EMG records of term and preterm delivery groups.. COBISS.SIID 7711828, COBISS.SIID 251346944 6. JURKOVIĆ MLAKAR, Simona. Influence of exposure to cadmium ions and the role of antioxidative enzyme genes in the development of osteoporosis. COBISS.SIID 254127616 7. Petja Fister. Thyroid volume changes during pregnancy in an iodine sufficient area. COBISS.SIID 248494336 8. Lana Škrgatič. Polymorphisms of selected genes in polycistic ovary syndrome. COBISS.SIID 51116 9. Mihael Rogač. Diagnostic algorithm and prognosis of mitochondrial disease in children and adolescents. COBISS.SIID 256630528 10. Anja Podlesnik Fetih. The impact of sport activities, eating habits and bad habits to pregnancy outcome COBISS.SIID 246405888
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 263362304We characterized EHG records during different periods of pregnancy using spectrogram and WignerVille timefrequency representation. On the basis of the characterisation, we noticed that the signal spectrum during pregnancy shifts to lower frequencies. We developed also a database of EHG records (300), the TermPreterm ElectroHysteroGram Database (TPEHG DB) and published it on Internet server Physionet (http://www.physionet.org/pn6/tpehgdb). The server Physionet maintains, updates and offers a set of free international standardized and nonstandardized databases intended for development and evaluation of algorithms and analysers of medical signals and images.
F.15 Development of a new information system/databases