Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Setting Department (setting + department)
Selected AbstractsPredictors of injury-related and non-injury-related mortality among veterans with alcohol use disordersADDICTION, Issue 10 2010Sylwia Fudalej ABSTRACT Aims To describe the association between alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and mortality and to examine risk factors for and all-cause, injury-related and non-injury-related mortality among those diagnosed with an AUD. Setting Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Participants A cohort of individuals who received health care in VHA during the fiscal year (FY) 2001 (n = 3 944 778), followed from the beginning of FY02 through the end of FY06. Measurements Demographics and medical diagnoses were obtained from VHA records. Data on mortality were obtained from the National Death Index. Findings Controlling for age, gender and race and compared to those without AUDs, individuals with AUDs were more likely to die by all causes [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.30], by injury-related (HR = 3.29) and by non-injury-related causes (HR = 2.21). Patients with AUDs died 15 years earlier than individuals without AUDs on average. Among those with AUDs, Caucasian ethnicity and all mental illness diagnoses that were assessed were associated more strongly with injury-related than non-injury-related mortality. Also among those with AUDs, individuals with medical comorbidity and older age were at higher risk for non-injury related compared to injury-related mortality. Conclusions In users of a large health-care system, a diagnosis of an AUD is associated significantly with increased likelihood of dying by injury and non-injury causes. Patients with a diagnosis of an AUD who die from injury differ significantly from those who die from other medical conditions. Prevention and intervention programs could focus separately upon selected groups with increased risk for injury or non-injury-related death. [source] Urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS) assessment: valuable tools to improve verification of abstention in alcohol-dependent patients during in-patient treatment and at follow-upsADDICTION, Issue 6 2009Klaus Junghanns ABSTRACT Aims The aims of this study were (i) to assess the effect of additional urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS) assessment on diagnosed relapse rates in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients; and (ii) to compare dropout rates between EtG- and EtS-negative and -positive patients. Design Two studies on detoxified alcohol-dependent patients. If patients had no indication of relapse they were asked for a urinary sample at discharge from in-patient treatment 3, 6 and 12 weeks after discharge (study 1) and 1, 3 and 6 weeks after discharge (study 2), respectively. Setting Department of Psychiatry, University of Luebeck, Germany. Participants A total of 107 and 32 detoxified alcohol-dependent patients having participated in a 3-week in-patient motivation enhancement programme. Measurement Personal interviews, breathalyzer tests, assessment of urinary EtG and EtS with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS analysis). Finding Urinary EtG and EtS were always positive at the same time. In the first study 13.5% of the patients were already positive before being discharged from hospital. At the follow-ups 3, 6 and 12 weeks after discharge 12.2, 19.4 and 28.0%, respectively, of the patients coming to the follow-up and denying relapse were positive on urinary EtG and EtS. In the second study, of those patients showing up for follow-up after 1 week and denying relapse, EtG and EtS were positive in four cases (17.4%). Only one EtG- and EtS-positive relapser (3.1%) came to the next follow-ups. In both studies the rates of detected relapses were significantly higher for early follow-ups if urinary EtG and EtS results were considered additionally. Dropout rates until the next follow-up were significantly higher among positive than EtG- and EtS-negative patients. Conclusion Urinary EtG and EtS improve verification of abstinence in studies of alcohol-dependent patients. [source] Deterioration in cord blood gas status during the second stage of labour is more rapid in the second twin than in the first twinBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2004Tak-Yeung Leung Objective To compare in twin pregnancy the rate of deterioration in umbilical blood gas status during the second stage of labour, and to investigate whether the duration of the first twin's delivery has any effect on the blood gas status of the second twin. Design A retrospective study. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a university teaching hospital. Population Twin pregnancies with both of the twins delivered by normal cephalic vaginal mode, at or beyond 34 weeks of gestation, over a period of seven years. Twins with any maternal or fetal complications including discordant growth, intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine death, fetal malformations, fetal distress, pre-eclampsia and diabetes were excluded. Methods The first twins' second stage was defined as from the start of maternal pushing to his/her delivery, while the second twins' second stage started after the delivery of the first twin and ended by his/her delivery. The total duration of the second stage was the sum of the above two intervals. The correlations between the first twins' umbilical cord blood gas parameters and the duration of their own second stage, the second twins' umbilical cord blood gas parameters and the duration of their own second stage, as well as that of the total second stage, were studied. Main outcome measures The changes of umbilical arterial pH of each twin with the duration of the corresponding second stage of labour, and the difference among them. Results A total of 51 cases were reviewed. The median gestation at delivery was 37 weeks. The median duration of first twins' second stage was 10 minutes (range 1,75) while that of the second twins' was 10 minutes (range 3,26). The first twins' second stage was inversely correlated with their arterial pH, venous pH and base excess [BE] (P < 0.01). Both the second twins' second stage and the total second stage were inversely correlated with both of their arterial and venous pH and BE (P < 0.01). However, further multiple regression analysis suggested that the correlation of the total second stage with the second twins' cord blood parameters could be solely explained by their own second stage. The rate of reduction in the second twins' arterial pH was 4.95 × 10,3 per minute, and was significantly faster than that of the first twins', which was 1.55 × 10,3 per minute (P < 0.05). Conclusions During normal vaginal delivery, the umbilical cord blood gas status of both the first and the second twins deteriorated with the duration of their corresponding second stages, but the effects are greater in the latter. Furthermore, the duration of the first twins' second stage does not affect the blood gas status of the second twins'. These observations support the postulation of a diminished uteroplacental exchange function after the delivery of the first twin. Close monitoring and expeditious delivery of the second twins are important. [source] The cost of microwave endometrial ablation under different anaesthetic and clinical settingsBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 10 2003Janelle Seymour Objective To compare the costs of microwave endometrial ablation under local anaesthetic and general anaesthetic in an operating theatre and to estimate the cost of performing treatment under local anaesthetic in a dedicated clinic setting. Design The costing study was undertaken alongside a randomised controlled trial comparing the acceptability of microwave endometrial ablation using local versus general anaesthetic in a theatre setting. Setting Department of Gynaecology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland. Sample One hundred and twenty-seven women undergoing microwave endometrial ablation who had been randomly allocated to general or local anaesthetic. Methods Health and non-health service resource use was recorded prospectively. Data on resource use were combined with unit costs estimated using standardised methods to determine the cost per patient for microwave endometrial ablation under local or general anaesthetic in theatre. A model was developed to estimate the health service cost of microwave endometrial ablation under local anaesthetic in a clinic setting. Main outcome measures Health and non-health service costs. Results There was little difference in cost when treatments were performed under local or general anaesthetic in theatre. The median health and non-health cost of microwave endometrial ablation was £440 and £120, respectively, under general anaesthetic and £428 and £125 per women under local anaesthetic. The health service cost of microwave endometrial ablation using local anaesthetic in a clinic setting was estimated to be £432 per treatment; however, this varied from £389 to £491 in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusion There are minimal cost savings to the patient or health service from using local rather than general anaesthetic for microwave endometrial ablation in a theatre setting. Cost modelling suggests that in a clinic setting microwave endometrial ablation has a similar cost to theatre based treatment once re-admissions for treatment under general anaesthetic are considered. Sensitivity analysis indicated that these findings were sensitive to assumptions in the model. [source] The prognostic significance of HPV-16 genome status of the lymph nodes, the integration status and p53 genotype in HPV-16 positive cervical cancer: a long term follow upBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Zoltán Hernádi Objective Prognostic evaluation of HPV-16 genome status of the pelvic lymph nodes, the integration status of HPV-16 and p53 codon 72 polymorphism in cervical cancer. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Department of Gynaecological Oncology, University of Debrecen, Hungary. Sample Thirty-nine patients with HPV-16 positive cervical cancer. Methods Primary tumour specimens of 39 cervical cancer patients with HPV-16 positive primary tumour were subjected to multiplex polymerase chain reaction using HPV-16 E1/E2, E7 and p53 codon 72 allele-specific primers. Pelvic lymph nodes of the same patients were also tested for the presence of HPV-16 DNA and for its integration status using HPV-16 E7 and E1/E2 ORF specific primers, respectively. Main outcome measures Progression-free survival. Results Metastatic lymph nodes carried HPV-16 DNA more frequently than nodes with no evidence of disease (100.0% vs 35.7%, P= 0.001). Cases with HPV-16 positive nodes had higher recurrence rate than those with HPV-16 negative nodes (42.9% vs 11.1%, P= 0.009). There was no difference between cases with and without histologically proven nodal disease with regard to integration status of HPV-16 DNA in the primary tumour (integrated 90.9% vs 71.4%, episomal 9.1% vs 21.4%, mixed 0% vs 7.1%) and p53 codon 72 polymorphism (Arg/Arg 54.5% vs 67.9%, Pro/Pro 0 vs 7.1%, Arg/Pro 45.5% vs 21.4%). Conclusion Regardless of the presence of nodal metastasis, HPV-16 status of the nodes is a significant predictor of recurrent disease. HPV-16 integration status and p53 codon 72 genotype do not seem to have a bearing on disease outcome in cervical cancer with HPV-16 positive primary. [source] Prenatal diagnosis for risk of spinal muscular atrophyBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 11 2002I. Cuscó Objectives Prenatal diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy is usually performed in high risk couples by detection of a homozygous deletion in the survival motor neurone gene (SMN1). However, other relatives at risk of being carriers very often request genetic counselling and the possibility of prenatal diagnosis. The aim of this study was to validate a SMN1 gene quantitative test to help the couples formed by one spinal muscular atrophy carrier and a partner of the general population (1/200 potential risk) to achieve a less ambiguous risk result for the pregnancy. Design Spinal muscular atrophy carrier studies in at-risk individuals. Setting Department of Genetics and Gynaecology and Obstetrics in a large university hospital. Population Seventy-nine obligate carriers (more than one affected child with deletion in the offspring) and 58 non-carriers (relatives of spinal muscular atrophy families defined by marker studies) were tested to set up a quantitative analysis. The method was applied in different situations in 126 members from 34 families with spinal muscular atrophy patients. Methods DNA studies of the SMN1 gene by marker analysis and quantitative assay. Main outcome measures To determine double (non-carrier) or single dose (carrier) of exon 7 of the SMN1 gene in relatives of spinal muscular atrophy patients. Bayesian calculation of risk. Results The sensitivity and specificity of the method were 96% and 100%, respectively. Studies on different couples with an a priori risk of 1/200 allowed us to reduce the final risk to 1/5000 or to increase it to 1/4. Conclusions The quantitative method can be used to achieve a less ambiguous risk in pregnancies with a 1/200 risk and in families where no sample is available to study the index case. Screening of gamete donors when the recipient is a known carrier should also be considered. [source] A new method to determine the feto-placental volume based on dilution of fetal haemoglobin and an estimation of plasma fluid loss after intrauterine intravascular transfusionBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 10 2002M. Hoogeveen Objectives (1) To calculate the feto-placental volume (FPV), using the haematocrit (Ht) values and the percentages of fetal haemoglobin (HbF), before and after red blood cell transfusion. (2) To estimate the transfusion-induced loss of plasma fluid. Design Retrospective analysis of data of 42 anaemic fetuses at the first transfusion [gestational age (GA) 19,36 weeks]. Setting Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. Sample Fifteen hydropic and 27 non-hydropic fetuses. Methods Donor blood volume (Vdonor) and Ht (Htdonor), fetal pre- and post-transfusion Ht values (Htinitial, Htfinal) and percentages of HbF (HbFinitial and HbFfinal) were used to calculate the FPV. The total red cell volume after transfusion (RCVfinal) and Htfinal were used to estimate the plasma fluid loss. Main outcome measures Feto-placental blood volume and loss of plasma fluid. Results The equations that use Htfinal over-estimate the FPV when the formula does not account for the difference between donor and post-transfusion Ht (FPVHt= 21.36 * GA , 390; r= 0.89). FPV is under-estimated (FPVHt= 9.90 * GA , 172; r= 0.84) when the blood volume increases with a volume less than the added donor blood volume. The calculation of FPV, using HbF percentages and the initial fetal RCV, is independent of volume changes (FPVHbF= 15.10 * GA , 279; r= 0.85). Comparing RCVfinal and Htfinal values showed that 31.1 ± 14.5% of the transfused volume was lost. Results of the hydropic fetuses did not differ from those of the non-hydropic fetuses. Conclusions FPV values based on Ht values are less reliable than those based on RCV and HbF findings. When, for practical reasons, Ht values have to be used, we propose an adapted equation for the calculation of the necessary volume of donor blood: Vdonor= FPVHbF* (Htfinal, Htinitial) / (Htdonor, 0.70 * Htfinal). [source] Factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin mutations are risk factors for very early recurrent miscarriageBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 12 2001M.F. Reznikoff-Etiévant Objective To determine whether there is an association between early recurrent miscarriage (before 10 weeks of pregnancy) and Factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin mutations. Design A prospective study. Setting Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Saint Antoine Hospital, Paris, France. Population Two groups of women: those with early unexplained recurrent miscarriage before 10 weeks of pregnancy (n=260) and control healthy women without a previous history of thromboembolism (n=240). Methods Screening for defects in the protein C anticoagulant pathway was performed using the anticoagulant response to agkistrodon confortrix venom (ACV test). Protein C and Factor V Leiden mutation testing was performed for each low ACV level. Each sample was tested for the G20210A prothrombin mutation. Results Factor V Leiden and G20210A mutations were found to be associated with early recurrent spontaneous miscarriage before 10 weeks of pregnancy, the odds ratios being 2.4 (95% CI 1,5) and 2.7 (95% CI 1,7), respectively. Similar results were found whether or not women had had a previous live birth. Conclusions Early recurrent miscarriage before 10 weeks of pregnancy is significantly associated with Factor V or G20210A prothrombin mutations. These results indicate a possible role for anticoagulant prevention in these early miscarriages. [source] Sacrospinous ligament fixation for massive genital prolapse in women aged over 80 yearsBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 8 2001Kari Nieminen Objective To assess the feasibility of vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation for women over 80 years of age with massive vaginal vault or uterovaginal prolapse. Design Retrospective observational study with long term follow up. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tampere University Hospital, Finland. Sample and Methods The study group consisted of 25 women with a mean (SD) [range] age of 83 (3) [80-93] years: 13 had posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse and 12 had massive uterovaginal prolapse. All underwent vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation with repair of pelvic floor relaxation. Women with uterovaginal prolapse also underwent concomitant vaginal hysterectomy. The long term outcome was assessed in 19 women. The mean follow up period was 33 (31) [2-113] months. Main outcome measures Intra- and post-operative morbidity, mortality and recurrence of prolapse. Results Sixteen of the 25 women (64 %) had no major intra- or post-operative complications. The mean estimated blood loss was 400 (280) mL, and seven women received blood transfusions. Four women (16%) had cardiovascular complications, and one died of pulmonary embolism. All four had a history of vascular disease. One woman had symptomatic recurrence of vault prolapse treated with a vaginal pessary; two women had asymptomatic cystocele and one had an enterocele requiring no treatment. The outcomes were similar for women with or without concurrent vaginal hysterectomy. Conclusion Transvaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation is an effective treatment for massive vaginal vault or uterovaginal prolapse in aged women. Increased blood loss may elevate the risk of cardiovascular complications especially in elderly patients with a history of vascular disease, thus indicating the importance of intraoperative bleeding control. [source] Pregnancy and delivery: a urodynamic viewpointBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 11 2000C. Chaliha Research Fellow (Urogynaecology) Objective The aims of this study were to establish prospectively the prevalence of objective bladder dysfunction before and after delivery by means of urodynamic investigations and to assess the effect of obstetric variables on bladder function. Design Prospective longitudinal study. Twin channel subtracted cystometry was performed in the standing and sitting position, with a cough stress test at the end of filling. The investigations were repeated three months postpartum. Participants Two hundred and eighty-six nulliparae with singleton pregnancies who were delivered between April 1996 and November 1997 attended for antenatal assessment after 34 weeks of gestation and 161 who returned postpartum. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a London teaching hospital. Results The mean urodynamic values both in pregnancy and postpartum lower than values defined in a non-pregnant population. The prevalence of genuine stress incontinence and detrusor instability were antenatally 9% and 8%, respectively, and postpartum 5% and 7%, respectively. Obstetric and neonatal factors were not related to urodynamic variables. Conclusions Despite the reported high prevalence of urinary incontinence related to pregnancy and childbirth, neither pregnancy nor delivery resulted in any consistent effects on objective bladder function. Postpartum urodynamic measurements were not related to either obstetric or neonatal variables, but were dependent on antenatal values. [source] Ultrasonographic measurement of endometrial changes following discontinuation of tamoxifen treatment in postmenopausal breast cancer patientsBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 9 2000Ilan Cohen MD Objective To assess whether there is a decrease in endometrial thickness following discontinuation of tamoxifen treatment as measured by ultrasound. Design Prospective study. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sapir Medical Centre, Kfar-Saba, Israel. Population Fifty-eight postmenopausal women with breast cancer who were treated with tamoxifen. Methods Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurements of endometrial thickness. Main outcome measures Evaluation of the changes of endometrial thickness and the frequency the endometrium reached a thickness of , 5 mm at different time intervals after stopping tamoxifen treatment. Results There was a significant decrease in median thickness of the endometrium, within six months after stopping tamoxifen, from 7.75 mm measured at the last ultrasonographic study performed before tamoxifen discontinuation down to 5.2 mm (P= 0.002). There were no further reductions in endometrial thickness, and it remained constantly low in subsequent ultrasonographic studies which were performed at various times up to 30 months following the discontinuation of tamoxifen treatment. While taking tamoxifen, only 25.9% of the women had an endometrial thickness of , 5 mm. This proportion doubled in their first six months after stopping. Conclusions Median thickness of endometrial thickness significantly reduced within six months following tamoxifen discontinuation, and remained constantly low thereafter. This finding may support use of ultrasonographic imaging for the measurement of tamoxifen's effect on the endometrium of postmenopausal breast cancer patients. [source] Pregnancy outcome in carriers of fragile XBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 8 2000Juuso Kallinen Medical Student Objective To evaluate pregnancy outcome in women who are carriers of fragile X. Design Cross-sectional case-control study. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. Sample Sixty-three singleton pregnancies in carriers of fragile X who were referred for genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis to Kuopio University Hospital. Methods Logistic regression analysis was used to compare pregnancy outcome in women who are fragile X carrier with outcome of the general obstetric population. Results Carriers of fragile X often experienced more bleeding in late pregnancy than did the reference group. Otherwise, the course and outcome of pregnancy were comparable in both groups. Conclusion Pregnancy outcome in women who are carriers of fragile X is favourable. There is no need to initiate special fetal monitoring because of the fragile X status of the woman. [source] Epilepsy and pregnancy: effect of antiepileptic drugs and lifestyle on birthweightBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 7 2000Christian Lodberg Hvas Research Fellow Objective To investigate the impact of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs on length of gestation and anthropometric measures of the newborn. Design Cohort study based on questionnaires mailed to all pregnant women who attended for prenatal care at our department from August 1989 to January 1997. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. Participants One hundred and ninety-three singleton pregnancies in women with epilepsy were compared with 24,094 singleton pregnancies in women without epilepsy. Main outcome measures Preterm delivery, small for gestational age, mean gestational age, gestational age-adjusted birthweight, head circumference, and body length. Results Children of women with epilepsy who smoked had lower gestational age and were at increased risk of preterm delivery (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.8,6.5), compared with children born by nonepileptic women who smoked. Birthweight adjusted for gestational age was reduced by 102 g (95% CI 40,164) in women with epilepsy, and the risk of delivering a child who was small for gestational age was increased (adjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3,2.7), compared with women without epilepsy. Newborn babies of women with epilepsy treated by drugs had a reduced adjusted birthweight (208 g, 95% CI 116,300), head circumference (0.4 cm, 95% CI 0.0.0.7), and body length (0.5 cm, 95% CI 0.1,1.0), compared with the newborn infants of women without epilepsy. Conclusions Women with epilepsy who smoked were at increased risk of preterm delivery compared with healthy smokers. Children of women with drug treated epilepsy had lower birthweight, length, and head circumference than children of women without epilepsy. [source] An epidemic of parvovirus B19 in a population of 3596 pregnant women: a study of sociodemographic and medical risk factorsBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2000Inge Panum Jensen Consultant Objectives To estimate the incidence of human parvovirus B19 among pregnant women before and during an epidemic, to elucidate possible sociodemographic and medical risk factors during pregnancy and to estimate the association between parvovirus B19 infection and negative pregnancy outcome. Design Prospective study among pregnant women followed from their first antenatal visit before 24 full weeks of gestation until delivery. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark, November 1992 to February 1994. Methods 3596 pregnant women were invited to participate. The women were examined at first antenatal visit in the period from November 1992 to February 1994 and at delivery. The last delivery was in August 1994 and samples were thus collected before and during a large parvovirus B19 epidemic in Denmark January to September 1994. A blood sample for parvovirus B19 serology was taken at enrolment and from the umbilical cord at delivery. Three questionnaires were completed during 2nd and 3rd trimesters and a registration form at delivery. In total, 3174 (87.6%) were enrolled and 79.5% completed the study. Results The prevalence of B19 IgG seropositivity at the first antenatal visit before 24 full weeks of gestation was 66%. The cumulative prevalence proportion of acute parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy among IgG negative women was found to be 10.3% (IgM seropositivity and/or IgG sero-conversion). The IgG seroconversion incidence increased significantly from 1.0% to 13.5% among 932 seronegative pregnant women before and during the epidemic, respectively (P < 0.001). Independent risk factors related to increased risk of B19 infection during pregnancy, adjusted for other sociodemographic and medical factors, were: children at home (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3,3.2); serious medical disease (adjusted OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.0,8.5); and a stressful job (adjusted OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0,3.3). Parvovirus B19 IgM seropositivity was associated with events of late spontaneous abortions and stillbirths (crude OR 9.9; 95% CI 3.3,29.4). Conclusion Before and during an epidemic of acute B19 infection incidences were measured among pregnant women to be 1.0% and 13.5%, respectively. Three factors, significantly increasing the risk of acute B19, were identified as: having children at home; suffering from serious medical diseases; and having a stressful job. IgM positivity for parvovirus B19 was associated with negative outcome of pregnancy. [source] Effects of maternal dexamethasone administration on fetal Doppler flow velocity waveformsBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Yvon Chitrit Consultant Objective To investigate the effects of maternal dexamethasone administration on umbilical and fetal cerebral artery flow velocity waveforms. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Robert Ballanger Hospital, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France. Sample Twenty-six pregnant women with singleton pregnancies considered at risk for preterm delivery. At baseline, all pregnancies had normal fetoplacental vascular resistance. Methods These women were given weekly six intravenous doses of 4 mg of dexamethasone eight hours apart. Main outcome measures Doppler studies were performed from both umbilical artery (UA) and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) before (day 0), during (day 2), immediately after (day 4) and shortly after (day 7) every steroid course. Results No significant variation was noted in both umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) and fetal heart rate through dexamethasone therapy. Compared with mean initial values, we found on day 4 a significant decrease in MCA PI of 0.28 (F = 7.17, P < 0.001) and a significant increase in UA:MCA PI ratio of 0.08 (F = 3.85, P= 0.013); in contrast no significant change was documented on days 2 and 7 in both MCA pulsatility index and UA:MCA PI ratio. After multiple regression analysis, only the decrease in fetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility index on day 4 remained significant (F=5.84, P= 0.001). Conclusions The current study finds in healthy fetuses a transient, significant and unexplained decrease in fetal middle cerebral artery impedance on the fourth day following maternal dexamethasone administration. Further basic research and clinical studies including larger sample sizes or pregnancies with fetoplacental dysfunction are needed. [source] Labour characteristics and uterine activity: misoprostol compared with oxytocin in women at term with prelabour rupture of the membranesBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2000Suk Wai Ngai Assistant Professor Objective To compare the labour pattern and uterine activity of oral misoprostol with oxytocin for labour induction in women presenting with prelabour rupture of membranes at term. Design Prospective randomised study. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Participants Eighty women presenting with prelabour rupture of membranes at term. Methods The women were randomised to receive either 100 ,g misoprostol orally every 4 hours to a maximum of three doses, or intravenous oxytocin infusion according to the hospital protocol. Intrauterine pressure transducers were inserted one hour before induction of labour in both groups of women. We compared the pattern of uterine activity, the induction-to-delivery interval, duration of labour, mode of delivery and neonatal outcome between the two groups. Results Both oxytocin and oral misoprostol caused an increase in uterine activity within one hour of labour induction. Peak uterine activity was reached 6,8 h after oral misoprostol, with persistent effects, and 8,10 h after oxytocin, requiring continuous titration of medication. The duration of labour was significantly reduced in nulliparous women, but not in those who were multiparous in the misoprostol group. The induction-to-delivery interval, the mode of delivery and the perinatal outcome were similar for the two groups. Conclusion Oral misoprostol caused earlier peak uterine activity, compared with oxytocin (6,8 h vs 8,10 h). Oral misoprostol was not only as effective as oxytocin in inducing labour in women at term with prelabour rupture of the membranes, but it reduced significantly the duration of labour in nulliparous women. [source] | ||||||||||