Post-term birth as a response to environmental stress : The case of September 11, 2001

Background and objectives: Despite growing interest in the role of maternal psychosocial stress as a determinant of preterm birth, no existing work has examined the relation between maternal stress and post-term birth (≥42 weeks). We hypothesize that prolonging gestation past term may represent an adaptive strategy to a suboptimal environment.Methodology: We examined the relationship between exposure to the September 2001 terrorist attacks and odds of post-term birth in California. We calculated the expected odds of post-term birth among conception cohorts of singleton gestations in California between October 1996 and November 2005. We used time series analysis to test for higher than expected odds of post-term birth among the 10 cohorts exposed to the attacks of September 2001 (those conceived from December 2000 to September 2001).Results: The observed odds of post-term delivery among gestations at 33–36 weeks in September 2001 were higher than statistically expected for all race/ethnic and sex groups.Conclusions and implications: Our finding that odds of post-term birth were higher than expected among pregnancies exposed to the September 2001 terrorist attacks in late gestation provides initial support for the hypothesis that exposure to a psychosocial stress during pregnancy may result in prolonged gestation.     

Systematic review of enhanced recovery after gastro-oesophageal cancer surgery

Introduction

Fast track methodology or enhanced recovery schemes have gained increasing popularity in perioperative care. While evidence is strong for colorectal surgery, its importance in gastric and oesophageal surgery has yet to be established. This article reviews the evidence of enhanced recovery schemes on outcome for this type of surgery.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted up to March 2014. Studies were retrieved and analysed using predetermined criteria.

Results

From 34 articles reviewed, 18 eligible studies were identified: 7 on gastric and 11 on oesophageal resection. Three randomised controlled trials, five case-controlled studies and ten case series were identified. The reported protocols included changes to each stage of the patient journey from pre to postoperative care. The specific focus following oesophageal resections was on early mobilisation, a reduction in intensive care unit stay, early drain removal and early (or no) contrast swallow studies. Following gastric resections, the emphasis was on reducing epidural anaesthesia along with re-establishing oral intake in the first three postoperative days and early removal of nasogastric tubes.In the papers reviewed, mortality rates following fast track surgery were 0.8% (9/1,075) for oesophageal resection and 0% (0/329) for gastric resection. The reported morbidity rate was 16.5% (54/329) following gastric resection and 38.6% (396/1,075) following oesophageal resection. Length of stay was reduced in both groups compared with conventional recovery groups in comparative studies.

Conclusions

The evidence for enhanced recovery schemes following gastric and oesophageal resection is weak, with only three (low volume) published randomised controlled trials. However, the enhanced recovery approach appears safe and may be associated with a reduction in length of stay.     

青少年和成年人无症状阻生智齿干预措施的疗效评价

目的评价在青少年和成人中拔除与保留无症状阻生智齿的效果.方法计算机检索Cochrane口腔健康组资料库(至2004年8月4日),Cochrane中心临床对照试验资料库(CENTRAL),Ovid-MEDLINE(1966～2004年8月4日),PubMed(1966～2004年8月4日)和EMBASE(1974～2004年8月4日).检索无语种限制.同时对主要相关杂志进行手检,并尽力获取正在进行和未发表的研究.纳入比较预防性拔除与保留阻生智齿效果的全部随机对照或临床对照研究.由3位作者分别独立评价所检出文献的相关性、真实性并提取数据,如有不确定性,联系作者以获取关于随机和失访的更多信息.对所有试验均进行了质量评价.结果共纳入3个研究,其中2个已完成的随机对照试验评价了青少年预防性拔除智齿对切牙拥挤的影响,另1个随机对照试验正在进行,但研究者不能提供任何资料,他们准备近期发表文章,如是,其资料将被纳入本评价的更新中.已完成的2个研究结局判断指标不同,不能进行数据合并.结论没有证据支持或反对常规预防性拔除成年人无症状阻生智齿,有一些可靠的证据表明在青少年预防性拔除阻生智齿既不能减少也不能预防切牙拥挤.     

Characteristics Associated with Reliability in Reporting of Contraceptive Use: Assessing the Reliability of the Contraceptive Calendar in Seven Countries

Although the reproductive calendar is the primary tool for measuring contraceptive dynamics in low-income settings, the reliability of calendar data has seldom been evaluated, primarily due to the lack of longitudinal panel data. In this research, we evaluated the reproductive calendar using data from the Performance Monitoring for Action Project. We used population-based longitudinal data from nine settings in seven countries: Burkina Faso, Nigeria (Kano and Lagos States), Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa and Kongo Central Provinces), Kenya, Uganda, Cote d'Ivoire, and India. To evaluate reliability, we compared the baseline cross-sectional report of contraceptive use (overall and by contraceptive method), nonuse, or pregnancy with the retrospective reproductive calendar entry for the corresponding month, measured at follow-up. We use multivariable regressions to identify characteristics associated with reliability or reporting. Overall, we find that the reliability of the calendar is in the “moderate/substantial” range for nearly all geographies and tests (Kappa statistics between 0.58 and 0.81). Measures of the complexity of the calendar (number of contraceptive use episodes, using the long-acting method at baseline) are associated with reliability. We also find that women who were using contraception without their partners/husband's knowledge (i.e., covertly) were less likely to report reliably in several countries.     

Anemia of the Belgrade rat: evidence for defective membrane transport of iron

The mechanisms underlying the impaired utilization of transferrin-bound iron by erythroid cells in the anemia of the Belgrade laboratory rat were investigated using reticulocytes from homozygous anemic animals and transferrin labeled with 59Fe and 125I. The results were compared with those obtained using reticulocytes from phenylhydrazine-treated rats and iron-deficient rats. Each step in the iron uptake mechanism was investigated, ie, transferrin-receptor interaction, transferrin endocytosis, iron release from transferrin, and transferrin exocytosis. Although there were quantitative differences, no fundamental difference was found in any of the abovementioned aspects of cellular function when the reticulocytes from Belgrade rats were compared with those from iron-deficient animals. The basic defect in the Belgrade reticulocytes must therefore reside in subsequent steps in iron uptake, after it is released from transferrin within endocytotic vesicles, ie, in the mechanism by which it is transferred across the lining membrane of the vesicles into the cell cytosol. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of reticulocyte ghosts extracts demonstrated a prominent protein band of mol wt 69,000 that was absent or present only in low concentration extracts from the other two types of reticulocytes. This may be a result of the genetic defect.     

Monitoring of streptokinase resistance titre in acute myocardial infarction patients up to 30 months after giving streptokinase or anistreplase and related studies to measure specific antistreptokinase IgG

Objective—To examine the induction of antistreptokinase antibodies after giving streptokinase or anistreplase to patients with acute myocardial infarction.Design—Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 1·5 × 10⁶ IU, streptokinase or 30U anistreplase in a double blind study. Blood samples were collected immediately before treatment and subsequently at intervals up to 30 months; plasma samples were assayed for streptokinase resistance titre (functional assay) and streptokinase binding by IgG (microradioimmunoassay).Setting—Cardiology department in a general hospital.Patients—128 consecutive eligible patients. Samples were collected for up to one year according to a prospective design: a subsection of 47 patients was selected for intensive study over the first 14 days. After one year, all available patients (67) were sampled on one further occasion.Results—Antibody responses to streptokinase and anistreplase were similar. Streptokinase resistance titres exceeded pretreatment concentrations five days after dosing, and values peaked at 14 days. By 12 months after dosing, 92% of resistance titres (n = 84) had returned to within the pretreatment range. Antistreptokinase IgG concentrations also exceeded baseline concentrations within five days and peaked at 14 days. Half of the individual values had returned to within the pretreatment range by 12 months (n = 84) and 89% by 30 months (n = 18).Conclusion—Although we cannot be sure of the clinical significance, because of the increased likelihood of resistance due to antistreptokinase antibody, streptokinase and anistreplase may not be effective if administered more than five days after an earlier dose of streptokinase or anistreplase, particularly between five days and 12 months, and increased antistreptokinase antibody may increase the risk of allergic-type reactions.     

Pre-dosing antibody levels and efficacy of thrombolytic drugs containing streptokinase.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the influence of pretreatment streptokinase resistance titre and the concentration of IgG antibodies to streptokinase on the efficacy of thrombolytic drugs containing streptokinase in restoring coronary patency in acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Comparative observational study. SETTING--City general hospital. PATIENTS--One hundred and twenty four previously unexposed patients presenting within six hours of onset of acute myocardial infarction. INTERVENTIONS--Streptokinase, 1.5 MIU as intravenous infusion over 60 minutes (60 patients), or anistreplase, 30 units as intravenous injection over five minutes (64 patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Pretreatment streptokinase resistance titre and concentration of IgG antibodies to streptokinase were measured in 96 and 124 patients respectively and coronary patency assessed angiographically at 90 minutes and 24 hours. RESULTS--Pretreatment streptokinase resistance titre and concentrations of IgG antibodies to streptokinase were low and skewed towards higher values. Those patients with coronary occlusion at 24 hours had a significantly higher median streptokinase resistance titre (100 v 50 streptokinase IU ml-1, P = 0.02). There were trends towards a higher streptokinase resistance titre in those patients with coronary occlusion at 90 minutes (50 v 20 streptokinase IU ml-1, P = 0.06) and higher concentrations of IgG antibodies to streptokinase in those with coronary occlusion at both 90 minutes and 24 hours (1.53 v 0.925, P = 0.03; 1.65 v 1.04 micrograms streptokinase binding ml-1, P = 0.06). Coronary patency rates were similar in the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS--In the range measured in previously unexposed patients the streptokinase resistance titre has a small, but significant, negative influence on the efficacy of streptokinase and anistreplase. This effect should be considered if retreatment with streptokinase or anistreplase is proposed.     

Autoantibodies against the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex in patients with chronic ITP

Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is caused by an antibody reactive with platelet-associated antigens. The present studies provide direct evidence that some patients with chronic ITP have autoantibodies against the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex. Microtiter wells, coated with a monoclonal antibody (2G12) specific for GPIIb/GPIIIa were reacted with GPIIb/GPIIIa contained in a platelet extract. Control wells containing the same antibody were reacted with a cell extract containing no GPIIb/GPIIIa. After washing, the wells were reacted with patient or control plasma, and IgG binding was detected using 125I-Fab2-anti-human IgG. Assay values were expressed as binding ratios (cpm GPIIb/GPIIIa wells/cpm control wells). Plasma from 5 of 56 patients with chronic ITP had ratios (1.36-3.14) greater than 3 standard deviations above the mean (+/- SD) of control plasmas--0.93 +/- 0.12. Elevated values were also noted in two patients with anti-P1A1 antibody (ratios greater than 30) and in one patient with Hodgkin's disease and an ITP-like syndrome (ratio 1.53). Normal values were noted in 34 patients with a variety of immune and nonimmune diseases. Plasma from two of the positive ITP patients was reacted with 125I-surface-labeled platelets and, after solubilization, the IgG and bound antigen were precipitated with Staph-A. Autoradiographs from SDS- PAGE electrophoresis of the Staph-A-bound proteins shows two radioactive bands consistent in size with GPIIb and GPIIIa.