Zika virus is an Arbovirus identified first time in 1947 in Uganda. Zika epidemic is a threat far greater than the Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization has urged Asian countries to be vigilant about the risk of spreading Zika virus and preventive measures to control it. In Iran, 64 species of mosquitoes from Culicidea family have been reported three of which belong to the Aedes genus, and one of which is Aedes albopictus. Iran also has suitable climate for endemic transmission of Zika virus. Immigrants from neighboring countries for economic reasons, could increase the risk of disease transmission in Iran. The destination countries of Iranian passengers, especially in East Asia, are at risk or have been reported to have cases of Zika. So, traveling to areas where active Zika virus exists and its transmission is common, could potentially increase the risk of transmission of Zika. Close supervision alongside the borders is necessary when foreign people arrive in the country.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Threatened abortion is defined as any bloody vaginal discharge or bleeding during the first half of pregnancy. It occurs in 30-40% of pregnant women and approximately 50% of them will abort. The aim of this study was to survey the therapeutic effects of progesterone in patients with Threatened abortion.METHODS: This double blind clinical trial study was performed on 300 patients with Threatened abortion who hospitalized in Ghods and Ali Ebne Abitaleb hospitals of Zahedan in 2004-2006. The patients divided into two groups randomly, we prescribed usual treatment (bed rest, hydration and analgesic drugs) in control group (150 patients) and our collaborators, gynecologists that were blind to this study, prescribed usual treatment plus progesterone (50mg/12h/im/4-6dose) in case group (150 patients) empirically.FINDINGS: In case group we have 3 cases of abortion (2%), while in control group there were 18 cases of abortion (12%) (p=0.001), while, average duration of hospitalization in case group was 1.89 days and in control group was 2.64 days and (p=0.0001). Average duration of uterine bleeding in case group was 1.78 days and in control group was 3.13 days (p=0.0001). So that the differences of two groups from these points were significant.CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that progesterone has significant results in reducing of abortion and time of hospitalization and bleeding in Threatened abortion.

Background: CA-125 is a glycoprotein and its origin is uncertain during pregnancy. It arises during the first trimester and return to a non-pregnancy range in late pregnancy. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare CA-125 level in Threatened abortion and normal pregnancy less than 20 weeks of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective case study carried out on 50 healthy pregnant (group 1) and 50 Threatened abortion women (group 2). We compared the levels of CA-125 in these groups and followed them to be informed of the outcome of pregnancy. Results: Fifty percent of women were in 20-24 years old group, primigravida and in the first trimester of pregnancy. The mean level of CA-125 in group 1 was 26.2 ± 3.25 IU/ml and in group 2 was 37.44 ± 2.72 IU/ml. The mean level of CA-125 in finally aborted patients was 58.17±7.25 IU/ml and in normal pregnant women, who continue to term, was 26.61±1.76 IU/ml. The CA-125 level in Threatened women, whose pregnancy continued and did not abort, was 30.89 IU/ml. There was statistically significant difference between mean serum CA-125 levels of two groups (p< 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference between these levels in the patients of both groups who continued pregnancies (p> 0.1). In group 2, there was a statistically significant difference in the level of CA-125 between those who developed abortion and those whose pregnancy continued but not aborted (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Measurement of serum CA-125 may be an inexpensive, easily available, sensitive and specific predictor of outcome in Threatened abortion, which results the loss of pregnancy.

Background: Preterm labor is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality and results in increased obstetric and pediatric care costs. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of vaginal progesterone for maintenance therapy following treatment of Threatened preterm labor for preventing preterm birth.Methods: The study included 70 singleton pregnant women with preterm labor with intact membranes. Patients were randomized to receive either maintenance vaginal progesterone therapy (n=37) administered (400 mg) daily or no treatment (controls, n=33) after discontinuation of acute intravenous tocolysis.Results: The two groups were similar with at respect to maternal age, race, parity, gestational age at admission, bishop score, and preterm delivery risk factors .Compared to the control group, the mean ±SD time gained from initiation of maintenance therapy to delivery (36/11±17/9 versus 24/52±27/2) (mean±SD) days, p=0.037) and the gestational age at delivery (36.07±1.56 vs. 34.5±1.3 weeks, p=0.041) were higher in the vaginal progesterone maintenance therapy group. No significant differences were found with recurrent preterm labor 13 (35.1%) versus 19 (57.6%), p=0.092. Respiratory distress syndrome 4 (10.8%) versus 12 (36.4%) p=0.021, Low birth weight10 (27%) versus, 17 (51.5%) p=0.04, birth weight (3101.54±587.9gr versus r 2609.39±662.9gr, p=0.002) were significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion: The gestational age and time gained from initiation of maintenance therapy to delivery were longer in women receiving vaginal maintenance tocolysis with progesterone and improve perinatal outcomes. However, maintenance therapy did not decrease the recurrence of preterm labor episodes.