Twin pregnancy

Twins account for 2–3% of all births. They carry significant risks to both mothers and babies. These risks include preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and pre-eclampsia. In addition, monochorionic gestations confer an even higher rate of perinatal morbidity and mortality arising from a shared placenta due to placental anastomoses, which may lead to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) or twin anaemia-polycythaemia sequence (TAPS). It is essential that chorionicity is established in the first trimester in order to initiate the appropriate antenatal management and surveillance. In view of the high risk of both maternal and fetal complications, twin pregnancies are ideally managed in a dedicated clinic according to agreed protocols with both obstetric and midwifery input.     

The host defense peptide LL‐37 is detected in human parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva and expressed in glandular neutrophils

The human host defense peptide, LL‐37, is an important player in the first line of defense against invading microorganisms. LL‐37 and its precursor, hCAP18, have been detected in unstimulated whole saliva but no reports showing hCAP18/LL‐37 in isolated, parotid, and/or submandibular/sublingual saliva have been presented. Here, we measured the levels of hCAP18/LL‐37 in human parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva and investigated the expression of hCAP18/LL‐37 in parotid and submandibular gland tissue. Parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva was collected from healthy volunteers, and the levels of hCAP18/LL‐37 in saliva were analyzed by dot blot, ELISA, and western blotting. Cellular expression of hCAP18/LL‐37 in human parotid and submandibular glands was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity for hCAP18/LL‐37 was detected in both parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva of all individuals. The concentration of hCAP18/LL‐37 was similar in parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva, and was determined by densitometric scanning of each dot and normalization to the total protein concentration of each sample, and by ELISA. Double immunohistochemistry revealed that intravascular neutrophils of both parotid and submandibular glands express hCAP18/LL‐37. For the first time, we demonstrate hCAP18/LL‐37 in isolated human parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva and expression of hCAP18/LL‐37 in glandular intravascular neutrophils, indicating that neutrophils of the major salivary glands contribute to the LL‐37 content of whole saliva.     

Cephalic arch stenosis: angioplasty to preserve a brachiocephalic fistula or new brachiobasilic fistula?: a cost-effectiveness study

Background: Our aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of repeat angioplasty versus new brachiobasilic fistula (BBF) in patients with symptomatic cephalic arch stenosis (CAS). Methods: Patients presenting with symptomatic CAS (n?=?22) underwent angioplasty. They were compared to patients undergoing BBF creation (n?=?51). Primary outcomes were functional primary arteriovenous fistulae patency at 3, 6 and 12 months. Data were collected on number of interventions, alternative accesses and hospital days for access-related complications. Quality of life was assessed using Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 scores. Decision tree, Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis permitted cost-utility analysis. Healthcare costs were derived from Department of Health figures and are presented as cost (£)/patient/year, cost/access preserved and cost/quality of life-adjusted year (QALY) for each of the treatment strategies. Results: Functional primary patency rates at 3, 6, 12 months were 87.5%, 81% and 43% for repeated angioplasty and 78%, 63% and 41% for BBF. The angioplasty cohort required 1.64?±?0.23 angioplasties/patient and 0.64?±?0.34 lines/patient. BBF required 0.36?±?0.12 angioplasties/patient and 1.2?±?0.2 lines/patient. Patients in the BBF cohort spent an additional 0.9 days/year in hospital due to access-related complications. Mean cost/patient/year in the angioplasty group was £5247.72/patient/year versus £3807.55/patient/year in the BBF cohort. Mean cost per access saved was £11,544.98 (angioplasty) versus £4979.10 (BBF). Average cost per QALY was £13,809.79 (angioplasty) versus £10,878.72 per QALY (BBF). Conclusions: CAS poses a difficult management problem with poor outcomes from conventional angioplasty. Optimal management will depend on patient factors, local outcomes and expertise, but consideration should be given to creation of a new BBF as a cost-effective means to manage this difficult problem.     

Political determinants of progress in the MDGs in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) lagged furthest behind in achieving targets for the millennium development goals (MDG). We investigate the hypothesis that its slow progress is influenced by political factors. Longitudinal data on three health MDG indicators: under-five mortality, maternal mortality and HIV prevalence rates were collated from 1990 to 2012 in 48 countries. Countries were grouped into geo-political and eco-political groups. Groupings were based on conflict trends in geographical regions and the International Monetary Fund’s classification of SSA countries based on gross national income and development assistance respectively. Cumulative progress in each group was derived and main effects tested using ANOVA. Correlation analysis was conducted between political variables – POLITY 2, fragile state index (FSI), voter turnout rates, civil liberty scores (CLS) and the health variables. Our results suggest a significant main effect of eco-political and geo-political groups on some of the health variables. Political conflict as measured by FSI and political participation as measured by CLS were stronger predictors of slow progress in reducing under-five mortality rates and maternal mortality ratios. Our findings highlight the need for further research on political determinants of mortality in SSA. Cohesive effort should focus on strengthening countries’ political, economic and social capacities in order to achieve sustainable goals beyond 2015.     

Microsatellite primer development for the salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) and cross-amplification in the western harvest mouse (R. megalotis)

The salt marsh harvest mouse (SMHM, Reithrodontomys raviventris) only exists in a patchwork of salt marshes scattered throughout the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bays of California. The species has declined significantly from its historical distribution due to habitat loss and fragmentation and is categorized as an endangered species under the US Endangered Species Act and by the IUCN. We identified ten microsatellite loci that amplify in the SMHM and the western harvest mouse [western harvest mouse (WHM); R. megalotis], a sympatric congener. Screening in 30 SMHM identified eight polymorphic loci, with an average of 4.6 alleles per locus, an observed heterozygosity of 0.45, and an expected heterozygosity of 0.55. Four of these loci and an additional one amplified in the WHM, of which two were polymorphic and three enabled species differentiation. We amplified all markers in two multiplexes, which will provide important tools for the conservation and monitoring of this flagship endangered species.