Mild Brachmann–de Lange syndrome: Changes of phenotype with age

We present a girl with mild manifestations of the Brachmann-de Lange syndrome (BDLS) with gradual change of the phenotype. Her findings support the hypothosis of variability of the phenotypic spectrum of the disorder.     

The relationship between women's subjective and physiological sexual arousal

Previous literature presents discordant results on the relationship between physiological and subjective sexual arousal in women. In this study, the use of hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) revealed a significant concordance between continuous measures of physiological and subjective sexual arousal as assessed during exposure to erotic stimuli in a laboratory setting. We propose that past studies that have found little or no association between the two measures may have been in part limited by the methodology and statistical analyses employed.     

Vaginal absorption of oestradiol and progesterone

The vaginal absorption of micronized oestradiol/progesterone from a hydrophilic matrix system was investigated before and after 10 days of treatment in 7 post-menopausal women with an average age of 56.1 yr.

Oestradiol and progesterone levels were measured on days 1 and 11 before administration and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h afterwards by radioimmunoassay.

Peak values were seen 6–12 h after administration. This finding differs from those of other investigations. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and androgen concentrations were unchanged after 10 days of treatment.     

How communication about risk and role affects women’s decisions about birth after caesarean

Objective

This study investigated how health care provider communication of risk information, and women’s role in decision-making, influenced women’s preferences for mode of birth after a previous caesarean birth.

The vaginal microbiota and its association with human papillomavirus,Chlamydia trachomatis,Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The vaginal microbiota may modulate susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium infections. Persistent infection with a carcinogenic HPV is a prerequisite for cervical cancer, and C. trachomatis, N. gonorrheae and M. genitalium genital infections are all associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent infertility issues.

产妇抑郁对泌乳与产后流血的影响

目的：探讨产妇抑郁对泌乳与产后流血的影响。方法：对309例产妇采用自评抑郁量表评分，分成产后抑郁组和对照组，测评泌乳指标、产后流血的差异。结果：抑郁组产妇泌乳始动时间迟，产后24小时泌乳者仅13例；泌乳量少，产后72小时泌乳量多者仅13例；抑郁组产妇产后流血量多，与对照组相比差异有显著性。结论：产妇抑郁对泌乳与产后流血有不利影响，应加强对产妇进行心理健康指导。     

Occurrence of neural tube defects among first-, second-, and third-degree relatives of probands: Results of a United States study

Data on the occurrence of neural tube defects in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives of probands were collected in a United States study. The proportions of affected individuals were 3.2%, 0.5%, and 0.17% respectively. These findings are compared to those from other recent North American studies, and differences are discussed. It is pointed out that accurate recurrence risk figures may not be available, and that caution should be used when counseling families with relatives who are affected with NTD.     

徐州地区334例早产儿临床分析

目的探讨我院2006年334例早产儿,分析发生的危险因素,以总结提高产科早产预防、医疗水平,并提供研究参考。方法早产组334例与同期分娩的足月对照组334例分析比较,早产的临床相关因素及对围产儿的影响。结果胎膜早破,妊娠高血压综合征,前置胎盘,臀位,多胎妊娠是早产的重要因素。早产使新生儿窒息,围生儿死亡,低体重儿增加。结论早产使围产儿窒息和死亡率增加。加强早产预测可望降低早产的发生,提高围生医学质量。     

Prenatal paracetamol exposure and risk of asthma and elevated immunoglobulin E in childhood

BACKGROUND: We recently found that paracetamol (acetaminophen) use in late pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of early wheezing in the offspring. OBJECTIVE: To see whether use of paracetamol in late pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of asthma, wheezing and other atopic outcomes in the child at school age. METHODS: In the population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we measured associations of paracetamol and aspirin use in late pregnancy (20-32 weeks) with asthma, hayfever, eczema (n = 8511) and wheezing (8381) in the offspring at 69-81 months, and with atopy (positive skin prick test to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat or grass, n = 6527) and blood total IgE (n = 5148) at 7 years. We used logistic and linear regression to analyse binary outcomes and log-transformed IgE, respectively, controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Use of paracetamol, but not aspirin, in late pregnancy was positively associated with asthma (odds ratios (ORs), comparing children whose mothers took paracetamol 'sometimes' and 'most days/daily' with those whose mothers never took it, 1.22 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.41) and 1.62 (95% CI: 0.86-3.04), respectively; P trend = 0.0037), wheezing (ORs 1.20 (95% CI: 1.02-1.40) and 1.86 (95% CI: 0.98-3.55), respectively; P trend = 0.011), and total IgE (geometric mean ratios 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03-1.26) and 1.52 (95% CI: 0.98-2.38), respectively; P trend = 0.0034), but not hayfever, eczema or skin test positivity. The proportion of asthma attributable to paracetamol use in late pregnancy, assuming a causal relation, was 7%. CONCLUSION: Paracetamol exposure in late gestation may cause asthma, wheezing and elevated IgE in children of school age.     

Birth weight in pre-eclamptic and normotensive twin pregnancies: an analysis of discordance and growth restriction

The aim of this study was to verify whether twin pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia were associated with a higher rate of inter-twin weight discordance or an increased prevalence of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates than in normotensive twin pregnancies. A 17 year retrospective study was undertaken by examining 76 twin pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia and comparing them with 400 normotensive twin pregnancies. The case notes were reviewed in reference to birth weight differences, birth order, pregnancy outcome and inter-twin birth weight discordance. Statistical analyses were performed with t-test, contingency tables, regression curves, rank sum test and non-parametric survival plots. Power analysis was also carried out. Pre-eclamptic twin pregnancies were delivered at similar weeks of gestation to normotensive. They resulted in a smaller size for the second twin the earlier the delivery week, while in normotensive twin pregnancies no significant difference occurred at any week. Twin pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia showed higher rates of SGA neonates among second twins than those with normal pressure. The >25% discordance was associated with lower gestational age at delivery in each group [mean (range) 33 weeks (27-38) versus 37 (29-41), P < 0.005 pre-eclampsia and 35 weeks (25-41) versus 38 (25-42), P < 0.001 normotensive]. In pre-eclampsia the concomitant occurrence of SGA second twin and the discordance >25% was associated with shorter gestation while the presence of SGA second twin alone was not.