Glucocorticoids play a critical role in initiating parturition in most mammals, including humans. In humans, their labor-promoting mechanisms primarily involve promoting estrogen and prostaglandin synthesis, inducing functional progesterone withdrawal, and facilitating membrane rupture. However, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids—whether intramuscular, intravenous, or intra-amniotic—can variably trigger labor and may even contribute to the development of fetal programming of adult diseases. Clinically, synthetic glucocorticoids are primarily used in threatened preterm pregnant women to enhance fetal lung maturation and improve neonatal outcomes, rather than to intervene in the delivery process. Therefore, strict control over the timing and dosage of synthetic glucocorticoids is essential to balance their benefits for fetal lung development against the risks of unintended labor induction.

Glucocorticoids play a critical role in initiating parturition in most mammals, including humans. In humans, their labor-promoting mechanisms primarily involve promoting estrogen and prostaglandin synthesis, inducing functional progesterone withdrawal, and facilitating membrane rupture. However, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids—whether intramuscular, intravenous, or intra-amniotic—can variably trigger labor and may even contribute to the development of fetal programming of adult diseases. Clinically, synthetic glucocorticoids are primarily used in threatened preterm pregnant women to enhance fetal lung maturation and improve neonatal outcomes, rather than to intervene in the delivery process. Therefore, strict control over the timing and dosage of synthetic glucocorticoids is essential to balance their benefits for fetal lung development against the risks of unintended labor induction.

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical features of patients carrying deletions of the rod domain of the dystrophin gene. METHODS Clinical data of 12 Chinese patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and such deletions was reviewed. RESULTS Most patients complained of muscle weakness of lower limbs. Two patients had muscle cramps, one had increased creatine kinase (CK) level, and one had dilated cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION Compared with DMD, the clinical features of BMD are much more variable, particularly for those carrying deletions of the rod domain of the dystrophin gene. Muscular weakness may not be the sole complaint of BMD. The diagnosis of BMD cannot be excluded by moderately elevated CK. For male patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, the possibility of BMD should be considered.