Where are the labor markets?: Examining the association between structural racism in labor markets and infant birth weight

Racist policies and practices that restrict Black, as compared to white workers, from employment may drive racial inequities in birth outcomes among workers. This study examined the association between structural racism in labor markets, measured at a commuting zone where workers live and commute to work, and low-birthweight birth. We found the deleterious effect of structural racism in labor markets among US-born Southern Black pregnant people of working age, but not among African- or Caribbean-born counterparts in any US region. Our analysis highlights the intersections of structural racism, culture, migration, and history of racial oppression that vary across regions and birth outcomes of Black workers.     

Emergency Care EMTALA Alterations During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of health care delivery in the United States, and the emergency medicine system has been hit particularly hard while dealing with this public health crisis. In an unprecedented time in our history, medical systems and clinicians have been asked to be creative, flexible, and innovative, all while continuing to uphold the important standards in the US health care system. To continue providing quality services to patients during this extraordinary time, care providers, organizations, administrators, and insurers have needed to alter longstanding models and procedures to respond to the dynamics of a pandemic. The Emergency Medicine Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986, or EMTALA, is 1 example of where these alterations have allowed health care facilities and clinicians to continue their work of caring for patients while protecting both the patients and the clinicians themselves from infectious exposures at the same time.     

某医疗机构核医学工作场所劳务派遣保洁人员的职业健康管理

近几年，"劳务派遣"成了医疗机构终末消毒、保洁、垃圾回收等工作新的用工形式。由于多数用工单位和用人单位不清楚对劳务派遣人员职业健康管理中各自应承担的责任和义务，以至于劳务派遣工在劳动过程中应享有的劳动保护权益未获得切实保障。本文就某医疗机构核医学工作场所劳务派遣保洁人员的职业健康管理监督案例进行讨论。     

不同浓度罗哌卡因复合舒芬太尼分娩镇痛对产妇产间发热的影响

目的研究不同浓度罗哌卡因复合舒芬太尼硬膜外注射用于分娩镇痛对产妇产间发热及致热因子的影响。方法适合阴道分娩、自愿要求分娩镇痛的初产妇120例,孕37～41周,年龄20～35岁,ASA I或Ⅱ级,随机分为三组:0.075%罗哌卡因组(A组)、0.1%罗哌卡因组(B组)和0.125%罗哌卡因组(C组),每组40例。宫口扩张至3 cm时实施硬膜外分娩镇痛,A组0.075%罗哌卡因+舒芬太尼0.5μg/ml;B组0.1%罗哌卡因+舒芬太尼0.5μg/ml;C组0.125%罗哌卡因+舒芬太尼0.5μg/ml。记录镇痛后1、2、3、4和5 h、胎儿娩出即刻、分娩后2 h产妇鼓膜温度;分别在镇痛前、胎儿娩出即刻及分娩后2 h采集产妇静脉血,测定血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α浓度;记录产程时间;采用改良Bromage法评定三组产妇在镇痛后1 h及胎儿娩出即刻的运动神经阻滞程度。结果与镇痛前比较,镇痛后5 h及胎儿娩出即刻三组鼓膜温度明显升高,C组发热率明显高于A组和B组(P0.05)。与镇痛前比较,胎儿娩出即刻三组血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α浓度明显升高(P0.05)。C组第二产程和镇痛时间明显长于A组和B组,B组第二产程和镇痛时间明显长于A组(P0.05)。三组运动神经阻滞程度差异无统计学意义。结论不同浓度罗哌卡因复合舒芬太尼硬膜外注射用于分娩镇痛均能产生良好的镇痛效果,低浓度罗哌卡因分娩镇痛产妇发热率低,产妇分娩期间发热与致热因子水平升高相关。     

The comparative accuracy of a handheld and console ultrasound device for neuraxial depth and landmark assessment

BackgroundThe study aimed to compare the accuracy of epidural depth estimation of a handheld ultrasound device, with an integrated algorithm that estimates epidural depth (AU; Accuro, Rivanna Medical), to that of a console ultrasound machine (GU; GE LOGIC^TM S8).MethodsWomen requesting labor epidural analgesia consented to this prospective cohort study. The L2/3, L3/4, and L4/5 interspaces and the respective depths to the epidural space were identified, marked and measured using an AU and GU. An anesthesia provider who was blinded to ultrasound depth measurements performed epidural analgesia at one of the ultrasound identified insertion points and recorded the Tuohy needle depth at loss-of-resistance. Bland Altman analysis was used to measure the agreement between the epidural depths measured by the AU and GU.ResultsA total of 47 women were analyzed. The mean ± standard deviation body mass index of the study cohort was 29 ± 5 kg/m² [range 23–45]. The mean difference between the epidural depths measured by the AU and GU was −0.29 cm [95% limit of agreement 0.50 to −0.91]. The mean difference between the depth to the epidural space measured by the GU versus the needle depth was −0.33 cm [95% CI −0.49 to −0.16]. The previously reported AU versus needle depth was −0.61 cm [95% CI −0.79 to −0.44].ConclusionThe AU and GU provided comparable epidural depth estimates. The AU device may be a reasonable alternative to more sophisticated ultrasound devices in determining the epidural space and depth in a non-obese obstetric population.     

The effect of obesity on the onset of spontaneous labor and scheduled delivery rates in term pregnancies

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of obesity on the onset of spontaneous labor, scheduled delivery rates and perinatal outcomes in term pregnancies.Material and methods242 obese and 244 non-obese pregnant women ≥37 gestational weeks were compared in terms of the onset of spontaneous labor, scheduled delivery rates and perinatal outcomes.ResultsObese pregnant women had statistically significantly lower onset of spontaneous labor and higher rates of scheduled delivery. No difference was determined in respect of the type of delivery, 1st and 5th minutes APGAR scores and the need for intensive care. Higher values of birth weight, large for gestational age, macrosomia, gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia were determined in obese women.ConclusionThe onset of spontaneous labor rates in term obese pregnancies were lower and scheduled delivery rates were higher than in the non-obese pregnancies. However, more extensive studies are needed to better understand this relationship.     

瘢痕子宫再次妊娠产妇行椎管内分娩镇痛的效果

目的观察瘢痕子宫再次妊娠产妇行椎管内分娩镇痛的安全性和有效性。方法选择2017年5月至2018年4月我院收治的瘢痕子宫再次妊娠同意阴道试产单胎足月头位产妇101例,随机选取分娩镇痛产妇70例为观察组,其中硬膜外分娩镇痛(E组)36例,腰-硬联合分娩镇痛(C组)34例,同期未镇痛产妇31例为对照组(N组)。记录产妇各产程时间、出血量、新生儿1、5 min Apgar评分、阴道分娩、产钳助产、子宫破裂情况,记录镇痛前、给药后5、10、20 min产妇NRS评分和Bromage评分。结果与N组比较,E组和C组第二产程时间明显延长(P0.05);E组出血量高于N组及C组,但差异无统计学意义。三组第一、第三产程时间、新生儿1、5 min Apgar评分、阴道分娩、产钳助产、子宫破裂发生率差异无统计学意义;镇痛后E组和C组NRS评分均呈下降趋势。与E组比较,C组NRS评分明显降低(P0.05)。结论瘢痕子宫再次妊娠产妇采用椎管内分娩镇痛安全可行,不降低阴道分娩率,不增加出血量以及产钳助产、子宫破裂发生率。腰-硬联合分娩镇痛较硬膜外分娩镇痛的镇痛效果好。     

Retirement and health: Evidence from England

This paper utilizes census records, inpatient records, comprehensive surveys, and mortality records from England to trace out the effect of reaching retirement age on retirement status and health outcomes. Applying a regression discontinuity design leveraging the pension age, I find that retirement substantially improves well-being and reported health. I find no immediate effect of retirement on behavioral outcomes and no evidence of changes to cognitive ability, utilization, or mortality. While prior literature has considered the effects of retirement on specific outcomes, this paper systematically examines the full range of health-related outcomes with administrative and survey data in a unified context.     

Sexual Intercourse for Induction of Spontaneous Onset of Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

IntroductionSexual intercourse during pregnancy is commonly believed to trigger the onset of contractions and, therefore, labor. However, in low-risk pregnancies, there is neither association with preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, or low birth weight, nor with spontaneous onset of labor at term.AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of sexual intercourse for spontaneous onset of labor at term in singleton pregnancies.MethodsThe systematic search was conducted using electronic databases from inception of each database to June 2019. Review of articles also included the abstracts of all references retrieved from the search. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials comparing sexual intercourse in singleton low-risk pregnancies at term with controls (either reduced number of coitus or no coitus) for spontaneous onset of labor. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.Main Outcome MeasuresThe primary outcome was the incidence of spontaneous onset of labor. The summary measures were reported as summary relative risk with 95% CI using the random-effects model of DerSimonian and Laird.ResultsData extracted from 3 trials, including 1,483 women with singleton pregnancy at term and cephalic presentation, were analyzed. Women who were randomized in the sexual intercourse group had similar incidence of spontaneous onset of labor compared with control subjects (0.82% vs 0.80%; relative risk 1.02, 95% CI 0.98–1.07).Clinical ImplicationSexual intercourse should not be restricted in low-risk term pregnancies. Further studies are needed to properly evaluate the impact of orgasm, penetration, condom use, frequency of intercourse and other factors on induction of labor at term.Strength & limitationsOur study has several strengths. The three included trials had low risk of allocation bias; intention-to-treat analysis was used; this is the first meta-analysis on this issue so far. Limitations mainly depend on the design of the included studies. Firstly, compliance to the protocol relied on self-reporting by patients; in addition, not all the features of sexual intercourse could be adequately assessed (orgasm, nipple stimulation, sexual positions, etc.).ConclusionIn women with singleton, cephalic, low-risk pregnancies, sexual intercourse at term does not significantly increase the incidence of spontaneous onset of labor.Carbone L, De Vivo V, Saccone G, et al. Sexual Intercourse for Induction of Spontaneous Onset of Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Sex Med 2019;16:1787–1795.