scholarly journals The “growing” evidence of the bottle and the bump: how does alcohol use during pregnancy affect infant and childhood growth?

2014 ◽  
pp. 138-141
Author(s):  
Linda Marie O’Keeffe
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Harmful Effect ◽  
Advertising Campaign ◽  
Moderate Drinking ◽  
Childhood Growth ◽  
The Past ◽  
Potential Use

“Guinness is good for you!” And it’s not just Guinness who, in the past, peddled this message as part of their global advertising campaign! In fact, pregnant women in Ireland were once advised to drink a glass of Guinness a day to fortify themselves and their babies! Although a practice that has been completely abandoned since the 1980s and one which would surely cause a stir today, it is astonishing to ever imagine pregnant women consuming alcohol on the recommendation of their doctor or midwife. Indeed, clinical trials of the potential use of alcohol to prevent preterm birth were on-going up until the 1970s, and some health professionals used alcohol for this purpose in obstetric practice. These days there is a greater focus on the harmful effect of alcohol and media attention on the issue of “moderate” drinking during pregnancy has never been more intense. Today it is estimated that, ...

scholarly journals Interventions to improve birth outcomes of pregnant women living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1657
Author(s):  
Jay J. H. Park ◽  
Ofir Harari ◽  
Ellie Siden ◽  
Michael Zoratti ◽  
Louis Dron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

Background: Improving the health of pregnant women is important to prevent adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birthweight. We evaluated the comparative effectiveness of interventions under the domains of micronutrient, balanced energy protein, deworming, maternal education, and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for their effects on these adverse birth outcomes. Methods: For this network meta-analysis, we searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of interventions provided to pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We searched for reports published until September 17, 2019 and hand-searched bibliographies of existing reviews. We extracted data from eligible studies for study characteristics, interventions, participants’ characteristics at baseline, and birth outcomes. We compared effects on preterm birth (<37 gestational week), low birthweight (LBW; <2500 g), and birthweight (continuous) using studies conducted in LMICs. Results: Our network meta-analyses were based on 101 RCTs (132 papers) pertaining to 206,531 participants. Several micronutrients and balanced energy food supplement interventions demonstrated effectiveness over standard-of-care. For instance, versus standard-of-care, micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, such as iron and calcium, decreased risks of preterm birth (iron: RR=0.70, 95% credible interval [Crl] 0.47, 1.01; calcium: RR=0.76, 95%Crl 0.56, 0.99). Daily intake of 1500kcal of local food decreased the risks of preterm birth (RR=0.36, 95%Crl 0.16, 0.77) and LBW (RR=0.17, 95%Crl 0.09, 0.29), respectively when compared to standard-of-care. Educational and deworming interventions did not show improvements in birth outcomes, and no WASH intervention trials reported on these adverse birth outcomes. Conclusion: We found several pregnancy interventions that improve birth outcomes. However, most clinical trials have only evaluated interventions under a single domain (e.g. micronutrients) even though the causes of adverse birth outcomes are multi-faceted. There is a need to combine interventions that of different domains as packages and test for their effectiveness. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42018110446; registered on 17 October 2018.

scholarly journals Interventions to improve birth outcomes of pregnant women living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay J. H. Park ◽  
Ofir Harari ◽  
Ellie Siden ◽  
Michael Zoratti ◽  
Louis Dron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

Background: Improving the health of pregnant women is important to prevent adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birthweight. We evaluated the comparative effectiveness of interventions under the domains of micronutrient, balanced energy protein, deworming, maternal education, and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for their effects on these adverse birth outcomes. Methods: For this network meta-analysis, we searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of interventions provided to pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We searched for reports published until September 17, 2019 and hand-searched bibliographies of existing reviews. We extracted data from eligible studies for study characteristics, interventions, participants’ characteristics at baseline, and birth outcomes. We compared effects on preterm birth (<37 gestational week), low birthweight (LBW; <2500 g), and birthweight (continuous) using studies conducted in LMICs. Results: Our network meta-analyses were based on 101 RCTs (132 papers) pertaining to 206,531 participants. Several micronutrients and balanced energy food supplement interventions demonstrated effectiveness over standard-of-care. For instance, versus standard-of-care, micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, such as iron and calcium, decreased risks of preterm birth (iron: RR=0.70, 95% credible interval [Crl] 0.47, 1.01; calcium: RR=0.76, 95%Crl 0.56, 0.99). Daily intake of 1500kcal of local food decreased the risks of preterm birth (RR=0.36, 95%Crl 0.16, 0.77) and LBW (RR=0.17, 95%Crl 0.09, 0.29), respectively when compared to standard-of-care. Educational and deworming interventions did not show improvements in birth outcomes, and no WASH intervention trials reported on these adverse birth outcomes. Conclusion: We found several pregnancy interventions that improve birth outcomes. However, most clinical trials have only evaluated interventions under a single domain (e.g. micronutrients) even though the causes of adverse birth outcomes are multi-faceted. There is a need to combine interventions that of different domains as packages and test for their effectiveness. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42018110446; registered on 17 October 2018.

An atomic-resolution microscope study of Al contracts on GaAs

1986 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 726-727
Author(s):  
Z. Liliental-Weber ◽  
C. Nelson ◽  
R. Ludeke ◽  
R. Gronsky ◽  
J. Washburn
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Schottky Contacts ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
The Past ◽  
Semiconductor Interfaces ◽  
Deposited Metal ◽  
Microwave Applications ◽  
Free Interfaces ◽  
Potential Use

The properties of metal/semiconductor interfaces have received considerable attention over the past few years, and the Al/GaAs system is of special interest because of its potential use in high-speed logic integrated optics, and microwave applications. For such materials a detailed knowledge of the geometric and electronic structure of the interface is fundamental to an understanding of the electrical properties of the contact. It is well known that the properties of Schottky contacts are established within a few atomic layers of the deposited metal. Therefore surface contamination can play a significant role. A method for fabricating contamination-free interfaces is absolutely necessary for reproducible properties, and molecularbeam epitaxy (MBE) offers such advantages for in-situ metal deposition under UHV conditions

Treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 121-125
Author(s):  
I. Pabinger ◽  
C. Ay
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Factor Xa ◽  
New Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Potential Use

SummaryCancer is a major and independent risk factor of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In clinical practice, a high number of VTE events occurs in patients with cancer, and treatment of cancerassociated VTE differs in several aspects from treatment of VTE in the general population. However, treatment in cancer patients remains a major challenge, as the risk of recurrence of VTE as well as the risk of major bleeding during anticoagulation is substantially higher in patients with cancer than in those without cancer. In several clinical trials, different anticoagulants and regimens have been investigated for treatment of acute VTE and secondary prophylaxis in cancer patients to prevent recurrence. Based on the results of these trials, anticoagulant therapy with low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) has become the treatment of choice in cancer patients with acute VTE in the initial period and for extended and long-term anticoagulation for 3-6 months. New oral anticoagulants directly inhibiting thrombin or factor Xa, have been developed in the past decade and studied in large phase III clinical trials. Results from currently completed trials are promising and indicate their potential use for treatment of VTE. However, the role of the new oral thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors for VTE treatment in cancer patients still has to be clarified in further studies specifically focusing on cancer-associated VTE. This brief review will summarize the current strategies of initial and long-term VTE treatment in patients with cancer and discuss the potential use of the new oral anticoagulants.

Advanced Maternal Age and Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Omani-Samani ◽  
Saman Maroufizadeh ◽  
Nafise Saedi ◽  
Nasim Shokouhi ◽  
Arezoo Esmailzadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Cesarean Section ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Advanced Maternal Age ◽  
Neonatal Outcomes ◽  
Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes

Background: Advanced maternal age is an important predictor for maternal and neonatal outcomes such as maternal mortality, low birth weight, stillbirth, preterm birth, cesarean section and preeclampsia. Objective: To determine the association of advanced maternal age and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in Iranian pregnant women. Methods: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 5117 pregnant women from 103 hospitals in Tehran, Iran, were participated in the study in 2015. The required data were gathered from hospitals which equipped to the department of obstetrics and gynecology. Advanced maternal age was considered as an independent variable and unwanted pregnancy, preeclampsia, preterm birth, cesarean section and low birth weight were considered as interested outcomes. Results: In our study, the prevalence of advanced maternal age was 12.08%. Advanced maternal age was significantly associated with higher risk of unwanted pregnancy (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.12-1.73), preterm birth (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.28- 2.39) and cesarean section (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.03-1.74). In our study, there was no significant relationship between advanced maternal age and preeclampsia but this relationship could be clinically important (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 0.99-2.20, P=0.052), and there is no significant relationship between advanced maternal age and low birth weight (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.67-1.74, P=0.736). Conclusion: Advanced maternal age is associated with higher risk of unintended pregnancy, preterm birth and cesarean section but our findings did not support advanced maternal age as a risk factor associated with low birth weight.

Recruitment Policies of Non-EU/EEA Nurses and Ethical Issues

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angèle Flora Mendy
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Ethical Argument ◽  
The Past ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Institutional Legacies

By examining policies of recruiting non-EU/EEA health workers and how ethical considerations are taken into account when employing non-EU/EEA nurses in the United Kingdom, France, and Switzerland, this chapter intends to show that the use of the so-called ‘ethical’ argument to convince national public opinion of the relevance of restrictive recruitment policies is recent (since the 1990s). The analysis highlights the fact that in addition to the institutional legacies, qualification and skills—through the process of their recognition—play an important role in the opening or restriction of the labour market to health professionals from the Global South. The legacy of the past also largely determines the place offered to non-EU/EEA health professionals in the different health systems of host countries.

scholarly journals ANCA Status or Clinical Phenotype — What Counts More?

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Windpessl ◽  
Erica L. Bettac ◽  
Philipp Gauckler ◽  
Jae Il Shin ◽  
Duvuru Geetha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Clinical Phenotype ◽  
Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody ◽  
Cardiovascular Death ◽  
Genetic Associations ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
The Past ◽  
Anca Associated Vasculitis

Abstract Purpose of Review There is ongoing debate concerning the classification of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. That is, whether classification should be based on the serotype (proteinase 3 (PR3)- or myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA) or on the clinical phenotype (granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)). To add clarity, this review focused on integration of the most recent literature. Recent Findings Large clinical trials have provided evidence that a serology-based risk assessment for relapses is more predictive than distinction based on the phenotype. Research conducted in the past decade indicated that a serology-based approach more closely resembles the genetic associations, the clinical presentation (i.e., lung involvement), biomarker biology, treatment response, and is also predicting comorbidities (such as cardiovascular death). Summary Our review highlights that a serology-based approach could replace a phenotype-based approach to classify ANCA-associated vasculitides. In future, clinical trials and observational studies will presumably focus on this distinction and, as such, translate into a “personalized medicine.”

scholarly journals Adhesion GPCRs in Glioblastoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Stephan ◽  
Niklas Ravn-Boess ◽  
Dimitris G Placantonakis
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
The Past ◽  
Novel Treatment ◽  
The Family ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Basic Biology ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Receptor Family

Abstract Members of the adhesion family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have received attention for their roles in health and disease, including cancer. Over the past decade, several members of the family have been implicated in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma. Here, we discuss the basic biology of adhesion GPCRs and review in detail specific members of the receptor family with known functions in glioblastoma. Finally, we discuss the potential use of adhesion GPCRs as novel treatment targets in neuro-oncology.

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