Association between fetoplacental Doppler results,placental pathology,and angiogenic factors among pregnant women with anxiety

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate whether state and trait anxiety among pregnant women were associated with fetoplacental Doppler findings, abnormal placental pathology, and placental angiogenic factors.Materials and methodsA total of 102 pregnant women at 32–35 gestational weeks were recruited and examined prospectively. State and trait anxiety were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Using Doppler ultrasound, pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and uterine artery (UtA) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) were determined. Doppler parameters were converted into multiples of the median (MoM). Abnormal placental pathology was classified into 2 groups: vascular underperfusion (VU) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine placental cells staining positive for placental growth factor (PLGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1-α (HIF-1α), which are markers for angiogenesis and hypoxic status, respectively.ResultsWomen with high state anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM and CPR MoM, while those with high trait anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM. VU was associated with a higher incidence of high trait anxiety scores, and HCA was associated with a higher incidence of high state and trait anxiety scores. Regression analysis showed a relationship between maternal state anxiety on MCA-PI MoM and HCA after controlling for covariates. Maternal trait anxiety exhibited relationships with VU and HCA after adjustment.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that maternal anxiety is associated with altered fetal cerebral blood flow and abnormal placental pathology but is not associated with uteroplacental insufficiency and placental angiogenic factors.     

Risk factors for complications and in-hospital mortality: An analysis of 19,834 open pelvic ring fractures

BackgroundOpen pelvic fractures are rare injuries, associated with high patient morbidity and mortality. Few studies have investigated the impact of patient demographics, comorbidities, and injury related factors on complication and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify the overall incidence of complications and mortality after open pelvic fractures, (2) compare patient factors between those who did and did not develop complications, (3) identify perioperative independent risk factors for complications and mortality.MethodsA query was performed for patients with open pelvic fractures between 2007 and 2017 using the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank. Patient and injury specific variables were collected and complications were identified using International Classification of Disease Ninth and Tenth edition Codes. Patient demographic and perioperative data was compared using Fisher’s exact test and chi-square test for categorical variables, and Welch’s t-test for continuous variables. Using pooled data from multiple imputations, logistic regressions were used to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals of independent risk factors for complications.ResultsA total of 19,834 open pelvic fracture cases were identified, with 9622 patients (48.5%) developing at least one complication. Patients who developed complications were older (35.0 vs 38.1 years), and had higher Injury Severity Scores (17.7 vs 26.5), lower Glasgow Coma Scores (14.2 vs 11.7), and a larger proportion presenting with hypotension (21% vs 6.9%). After pooled regression involving 19 factors, these were the strongest independent predictors of inpatient complication and mortality.ConclusionWe report a mortality rate of 14%, with an inclusive complication rate of 48.5%. Evaluating risk factors for morbidity and mortality for this devastating orthopaedic injury provides knowledge of an inherently sparse population.Level of EvidenceLevel II, Retrospective study.     

The associations of insomnia symptoms and chronotype with daytime sleepiness,mood symptoms and suicide risk in adolescents

ObjectivesTo investigate the association of insomnia and chronotype preference with daytime impairment and psychopathology in a community sample of adolescents in Hong Kong.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study that included seven local secondary schools in Hong Kong. A total of 1667 adolescents (mean age: 14.8 ± 1.6 years old; boys: 56.5%) returned a battery of self-report questionnaires including Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and reduced Horne and Östberg Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) for assessing insomnia symptoms and chronotype preference, respectively. A subset of adolescent samples (n = 768) were additionally assessed for suicidal ideation. Potential confounders including age, gender and sleep duration were controlled for in the analyses.ResultsThe prevalence of insomnia symptoms and eveningness chronotype was 37% and 25.6%, respectively. Regression models indicated that insomnia and eveningness were independently associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (insomnia: adjusted OR [AdjOR] = 3.8; 95% confidence interval [C.I.] = 2.9–5.0; eveningness: AdjOR = 2.6; 95% C.I. = 1.9–3.7), and an increased risk of depression (insomnia: AdjOR = 3.5, 95% C.I. = 2.5–5.0; eveningness: AdjOR = 2.0, 95% C.I. = 1.3–3.2). The odds ratio increased to 8.7 (95% C.I. = 6.1–12.3, p < 0.001) for excessive daytime sleepiness and 4.8 (95% C.I. = 3.2–7.2, p < 0.001) for depression among adolescents with both insomnia and eveningness. Insomnia symptoms, but not eveningness, were associated with anxiety symptoms (AdjOR = 5.8; 95% C.I. = 3.6–9.4) and suicidal ideation (AdjOR = 2.1, 95% C.I. = 1.4–3.2).ConclusionsThe present study provided further evidence that insomnia and eveningness uniquely contributed to poor daytime functioning and mood related outcomes, while the co-existence of these two conditions could confer a greater risk in adolescents. However, insomnia, but not eveningness, was significantly linked to suicidality after controlling for mood symptoms. Our findings highlighted the necessity of timely management of sleep and circadian issues in adolescents.