Mikiko Shimizu

This study aimed to clarify the temporal changes in transcutaneous hemoglobin levels up to 1 month postpartum and the influencing factors in postpartum women using a noninvasive transcutaneous hemoglobin measuring device. The study participants were pregnant women recruited at an outpatient clinic. We collected information on their dietary history using a concise self-administered questionnaire and an agreement document when they were hospitalized for delivery. Transcutaneous hemoglobin levels of the mothers were measured using Pronto (Masimo) at 1 day, 4 days, 2 weeks, and 1 month postpartum. We included 135 mothers (mean age, 31.7 years) who delivered at full term. The mean transcutaneous hemoglobin levels decreased slightly from day 1 (11.9 ± 1.6 g/dL) to day 4 postpartum (11.8 ± 1.7 g/dL), followed by a significant increase from day 4 to 2 weeks postpartum (13.8 ± 1.0 g/dL; p < 0.01), and no change from 2 weeks to 1 month postpartum (13.8 ± 0.9 g/dL). Iron intake in the third trimester of pregnancy affected transcutaneous hemoglobin levels from day 4 postpartum to recovery by 2 weeks postpartum. The rapid increase in hemoglobin levels from day 4 to 2 weeks postpartum was a novel finding. Evaluation of hemoglobin levels in women at 2 weeks postpartum is important for postpartum recovery. Furthermore, health guidance regarding iron intake in the third trimester of pregnancy has been suggested to be effective in restoring postpartum hemoglobin levels.

OBJECTIVE: This review will identify the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in preventing iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women with a normal course of pregnancy. INTRODUCTION: The global prevalence of anemia among pregnant women is 36.5%, posing risks to women and fetuses. This underscores the need for effective prevention; however, the effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches in preventing pregnancy anemia remains unclear. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will encompass experimental and quasi-experimental studies on the following approaches to prevent anemia during pregnancy: recommendations for dietary supplements, oral iron supplements (over the counter), provision of supplements to promote iron absorption, participation in anemia prevention education, and provision of information. There will be no restrictions on the duration or frequency of intervention, and longitudinal intervention studies will be included. In studies with a control group, the comparator may be usual care or pharmacological interventions; in studies without, it may involve no intervention, temporal comparisons, or baseline periods without non-pharmacological interventions. Evaluation of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and ferritin will be included as primary outcomes. Low birth weight, preterm birth, amount of blood loss at delivery, small for gestational age, and Apgar scores will be included as secondary outcomes. METHODS: A search will be conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ICHUSHI-Web. Researchers will screen studies, extract data, assess the quality of studies, and analyze the data in accordance with the JBI guidance for systematic reviews of effectiveness. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach will be used to assess the certainty of the findings. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022344155.

Aim: The purpose of this research is to determine the optimal depth of water in a foot-bath by analyzing adult women's physiological and psychological responses to foot bath.<br>Method: 19 adult women from 21 to 37 years-old were asked to put their legs in a bathtub containing water at 41 degrees Celsius in a sitting position for 15 minutes. We set up three types of foot-bathes with different depths—8 cm, which was below the Sanyinjiao point, 15 cm, which was above the Sanyinjiao point and below the gastrocnemius muscle, and 20 cm, which was at the gastrocnemius muscle, and conducted each type of footh-bath every other day. Low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) was calculated from heart rate variability. Physiological indicators were measured by autonomic nerve activity (HF as parasympathetic nerve activity and LF/HF as sympathetic nerve activity) , surface temperature, deep temperature, and blood pressure. Psychological indicators were measured by the Japanese version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS)-Brief Form and the new version of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form (STAI) JYZ.<br>Results: The POMS assessment showed that subjects were more relaxed when they took a foot-bath with 15 cm depth of water than the ones with 8 cm or 20 cm depth of water at a statistically significant level. Yet, no statistically significant difference was found between three groups regarding sympathetic nerve, parasympathetic nerve, heart rate, surface temperature, and blood pressure. Deep temperature was more stable in 15 cm depth of water than in 8 cm and 20 cm depth of water at a statistically significant level.<br>Conclusion: These results suggest that the optimal depth of water for adult women in a foot-bath is not 8 cm/20 cm but 15 cm.

The purpose of this research is to examine the potentials of anemia testing for pregnant women by hemoglobin measurement using a noninvasive hemoglobin test device (Pronto-7). Subjects were 35 pregnant women who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for receiving prenatal care. SpHb was measured noninvasively and its results were compared with Hb in blood tests. The results showed that mean SpHb was 12.0±1.2g (SD) /dl (range 9.2-14.8 g/dl) and mean Hb was 11.2±1.0g/dl (range 8.7-13.7 g/dl). The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.47, showing a significant positive relationship between them (p<0.001). The correlation coefficient between them during the first pregnancy trimester was 0.54 at a statistically significant level (p<0.01). Yet, its score was 0.62, a positive relationship (p<0.001) during the second pregnancy trimester and there was no statistically significant correlation between them during the third pregnancy trimester. The results were not sufficient to judge the potentiality of anemia testing for pregnant women. Therefore, it is considered that further research is necessary to verify it by increasing the number of samples and improving the test conditions in order to examine the effective use of a noninvasive hemoglobin test device during prenatal care.