Operative Vaginal Delivery Is a Safe Option in Women Undergoing a Trial of Labor after Cesarean

Objective  To compare outcomes of operative intervention in the second stage of labor during trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). Study Design  A secondary analysis of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network cesarean section registry was conducted. Analysis was by first attempted mode of delivery. Results  A total of 1,837 met inclusion criteria. Subjects in the operative vaginal groups (OVDs) were more likely to have a prior vaginal delivery (vacuum 34.2%; forceps 34.3%) than the repeat cesarean delivery (RCD) group (22.6%; p  < 0.0001). Most OVD attempts were successful (forceps 90.4%; vacuum 92.6%). Neonatal morbidity was not different (12.1% forceps vs. 14.6% vacuum; 14.8% RCD). Maternal morbidity was highest among forceps deliveries (32.3 vs. 24.3% vacuum; 22.0% RCD, p  = 0.0001). RCD was associated with surgical injury (2.7 vs. 0.7% forceps; 0% vacuum; p  < 0.0001), endometritis (8.4 vs. 3.2% forceps, 1.2% vacuum; p  < 0.0001), and wound complications (1.9 vs. 0.4% forceps; 0.3% vacuum; p  = 0.006). OVD was associated with anal sphincter laceration (22.7% forceps, 15.5% vacuum; 0% RCD; p  = 0.01). Conclusion  The success rate of OVD is high in TOLAC with similar outcomes to RCD. Maternal composite outcomes were highest with forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries. However, considering overall morbidity, OVD in the second stage of labor in TOLAC is a reasonable, safe option in selected cases.

Other adverse pregnancy outcomes and future chronic disease

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in females worldwide. Pregnancy is associated with significant physiologic changes that may function as a natural stress test to detect women at future risk. It is established that women who have had a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes or a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, and there is growing evidence that women who deliver infants preterm or growth-restricted infants have an elevated risk as well. Consideration should be given to including these outcomes as indicators of cardiovascular risk. Pregnancy represents a teachable moment when it would be ideal to identify women at risk. Improved integration of women's primary health care and an enhanced knowledge base on the part of clinicians will be necessary to fully incorporate these findings into the clinical care of women.

Hemoglobin A1c in pregestational diabetic gravidas and the risk of congenital heart disease in the fetus

This study aimed to determine whether poor glycemic control in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) for infants of women with preexisting diabetes. A retrospective review examined two tertiary care centers of diabetic pregnancies that recorded early hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values (<20 weeks). The incidence of prenatally diagnosed CHD was calculated and stratified by HbA1c level. Poor glycemic control was defined as an HbA1c level of 8.5 % or higher. Fetal echocardiography was used to identify fetuses that resulted in infants with suspected CHD. Neonatal echocardiograms and pathology reports were reviewed for confirmation of the diagnosis. Of 535 patients, 30 (5.6 %) delivered an infant with confirmed CHD. Among the patients with poor glycemic control, 8.3 % (n = 17) delivered an infant with CHD, whereas 3.9 % (n = 13) of those with an HbA1c level lower than 8.5 % delivered an infant with CHD (p = 0.03). Poor glycemic control in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of CHD in offspring. The incidence of CHD in patients with adequate glycemic control still is sufficiently high to justify routine fetal echocardiography for all gravidas with preexisting diabetes regardless of HbA1c level.

Persistent bilateral ureteral obstruction secondary to endometriosis despite treatment with an aromatase inhibitor

OBJECTIVE

To present a case demonstrating lack of efficacy of an aromatase inhibitor in treating ureteral endometriosis.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

A tertiary-care hospital.

PATIENT(S)

A 47-year-old woman with severe ureteral endometriosis.

INTERVENTION(S)

Anastrozole 1 mg daily for 15 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Renal function.

RESULT(S)

Despite medical management with anastrozole, our patient continued to have worsening renal function and subsequently required surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION(S)

Anastrozole was ineffective at preventing deterioration of renal function in this patient.

Phylogenomic analysis of vertebrate thrombospondins reveals fish-specific paralogues, ancestral gene relationships and a tetrapod innovation

Background

Thrombospondins (TSPs) are evolutionarily-conserved, extracellular, calcium-binding glycoproteins with important roles in cell-extracellular matrix interactions, angiogenesis, synaptogenesis and connective tissue organisation. Five TSPs, designated TSP-1 through TSP-5, are encoded in the human genome. All but one have known roles in acquired or inherited human diseases. To further understand the roles of TSPs in human physiology and pathology, it would be advantageous to extend the repertoire of relevant vertebrate models. In general the zebrafish is proving an excellent model organism for vertebrate biology, therefore we set out to evaluate the status of TSPs in zebrafish and two species of pufferfish.

Results

We identified by bioinformatics that three fish species encode larger numbers of TSPs than vertebrates, yet all these sequences group as homologues of TSP-1 to -4. By phylogenomic analysis of neighboring genes, we uncovered that, in fish, a TSP-4-like sequence is encoded from the gene corresponding to the tetrapod TSP-5 gene. Thus, all TSP genes show conservation of synteny between fish and tetrapods. In the human genome, the TSP-1, TSP-3, TSP-4 and TSP-5 genes lie within paralogous regions that provide insight into the ancestral genomic context of vertebrate TSPs.

Conclusion

A new model for TSP evolution in vertebrates is presented. The TSP-5 protein sequence has evolved rapidly from a TSP-4-like sequence as an innovation in the tetrapod lineage. TSP biology in fish is complicated by the presence of additional lineage- and species-specific TSP paralogues. These novel results give deeper insight into the evolution of TSPs in vertebrates and open new directions for understanding the physiological and pathological roles of TSP-4 and TSP-5 in humans.

Fluroide concentration in enamel treated with 50% phosphoric acid and NaF with subsequent decalcification in "acid-gel"

Fluoride concentration of enamel surfaces treated with 50% H3PO4, together with high NaF contents or etched with 50% H3PO4 followed by application with a water solution of high NaF content, was examined. In addition, the degree of decalcification and the fluoride content of subsequently incubated enamel samples in acid-gel at 37 degrees C were determined. Generally, incubation highly increased the fluoride contents of the etched and fluoridated (experimental), control (etched only), and untreated (vaseline) enamel samples. An increasing demineralization effect was observed in the samples of the following order: experimental, control, and baseline. It appears does not predispose to an increased caries challenge in vitro.