SOGC Clinical Practice Guideline. Magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection.

OBJECTIVE: To provide guidelines for the use of antenatal magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) for fetal neuroprotection of the preterm infant. OPTIONS: Antenatal MgSO4 administration should be considered for fetal neuroprotection when women present at ≤ 31+6 weeks with imminent preterm birth, defined as a high likelihood of birth because of active labour with cervical dilatation ≥ 4 cm, with or without preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes, and/or planned preterm birth for fetal or maternal indications. There are no other known fetal neuroprotective agents. OUTCOMES: The outcomes measured are the incidence of cerebral palsy (CP) and neonatal death. EVIDENCE: Published literature was retrieved through searches of PubMed or Medline, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library in May 2010, using appropriate controlled vocabulary and key words (magnesium sulphate, cerebral palsy, preterm birth). Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and relevant observational studies. There were no date or language restrictions. Searches were updated on a regular basis and incorporated in the guideline to August 2010. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology assessment-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. VALUES: The quality of evidence was rated using the criteria described in the Report of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Table 1). BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: Antenatal magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection reduces the risk of "death or CP" (RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.74 to 0.98; 4 trials, 4446 infants), "death or moderate-severe CP" (RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.99; 3 trials, 4250 infants), "any CP" (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.55 to 0.91; 4, trials, 4446 infants), "moderate-to-severe CP" (RR 0.60; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.84; 3 trials, 4250 infants), and "substantial gross motor dysfunction" (inability to walk without assistance) (RR 0.60; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.83; 3 trials, 4287 women) at 2 years of age. Results were consistent between trials and across the meta-analyses. There is no anticipated significant increase in health care-related costs, because women eligible to receive antenatal MgSO4 will be judged to have imminent preterm birth. VALIDATION: Australian National Clinical Practice Guidelines were published in March 2010 by the Antenatal Magnesium Sulphate for Neuroprotection Guideline Development Panel. Antenatal MgSO4 was recommended for fetal neuroprotection in the same dosage as recommended in these guidelines. However, MgSO4 was recommended only at < 30 weeks' gestation, based on 2 considerations. First, no one gestational age subgroup was considered to show a clear benefit. Second, in the face of uncertainty, the committee felt it was prudent to limit the impact of their clinical practice guidelines on resource allocation. Also in March 2010, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a Committee Opinion on MgSO4 for fetal neuroprotection. It stated that, "the available evidence suggests that magnesium sulphate given before anticipated early preterm birth reduces the risk of cerebral palsy in surviving infants." No official opinion was given on a gestational age cut-off, but it was recommended that physicians develop specific guidelines around the issues of inclusion criteria, dosage, concurrent tocolysis, and monitoring in accordance with one of the larger trials. SPONSORS: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Treating the acute stroke patient as an emergency: current practices and future opportunities

Developments in acute stroke therapy have followed advances in the understanding of the evolving pathophysiology in both ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). In ischaemic stroke, rapid reperfusion of the ischaemic penumbra with thrombolysis within 3 h of symptom onset is of proven benefit, but few patients currently receive therapy, mainly due to the short-time window and lack of stroke expertise. In ICH, a recent study indicated that a haemostatic agent can limit ongoing bleeding and improve outcomes when administered within 4 h of stroke onset. These advances in acute stroke therapy underlie the concept that ‘time is brain’ and that urgent intervention can limit cerebral damage. Neuroprotective therapy could offer the prospect of a greater proportion of stroke patients receiving treatment, potentially before imaging and even in the ambulance setting. Virtually all stroke patients would benefit from receiving multidisciplinary care in acute stroke units

Working to improve survival and health for babies born very preterm: The WISH project protocol

Background: Babies born very preterm (before 30 weeks gestation) are at high risk of dying in their first weeks of life, and those who survive are at risk of developing cerebral palsy in childhood. Recent high-quality evidence has shown that giving women magnesium sulphate immediately prior to very early birth can significantly increase the chances of their babies surviving free of cerebral palsy. In 2010 Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines recommended this therapy. The WISH (Working to Improve Survival and Health for babies born very preterm) Project aims to bi-nationally improve and monitor the use of this therapy to reduce the risk of very preterm babies dying or having cerebral palsy. Methods/Design: The WISH Project is a prospective cohort study. The 25 Australian and New Zealand tertiary level maternity hospitals will be provided with a package of active implementation strategies to guide the introduction and local adaptation of guideline recommendations. Surveys will be conducted at individual hospitals to evaluate outcomes related to local implementation progress and the use and value of the WISH implementation strategies. For the hospitals participating in the ‘WISH audit of uptake and health outcomes data collection’, the primary health outcomes (assessed through case note review, and 24 month corrected age questionnaires) will be: the proportion of eligible women receiving antenatal magnesium sulphate; and rates of death prior to primary hospital discharge and cerebral palsy at two years corrected age in infants born to eligible mothers. For hospitals wishing to assess factors influencing translation locally, barriers and facilitators will be measured through interviews with health care professionals, to further guide implementation strategies. Study outcomes for the early phase of the project (Year 1) will be compared with the later intervention phase (Years 2 and 3). Discussion: The WISH Project will offer insight into the effectiveness of a multifaceted implementation strategy to improve the uptake of a novel neuroprotective therapy in obstetric clinical practice. The successful implementation of antenatal magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection in Australia and New Zealand could lead to over 90 fewer very preterm babies dying or suffering the long-term consequences of cerebral palsy each year.Caroline A Crowther, Philippa F Middleton, Emily Bain, Pat Ashwood, Tanya Bubner, Vicki Flenady, Jonathan Morris, Sarah McIntyre for the WISH Project Tea

TALAT Lecture 2102.03: The Transmission Housing of an Inboard-Outboard Engine, Special Study: Casting

This lecture offers an example of product development. It imparts knowledge about different ways of casting aluminium and criteria for selecting casting methods; the heat treatment of aluminium; corrosion-proofing and surface treatment of cast alloys used in a saline environment and choice of alloy. It provides insight into how to develop a product using the general specificiations and the interaction between form, material and processing chain and ?the importance of being thoroughly familiar with the different design materials, their processing possibilities and properties. The lecture is recommended for those situations, where a brief, general background information about aluminium is needed as an introduction of other subject areas of aluminium application technologies. This lecture is part of the self-contained course "Aluminium in Product Development", which is treated under TALAT lectures 2101 and 2102.

The effect of oxide impurities on the microstructure and properties of Z-T.Z.P

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