Pregnancy-related comorbidities and labor induction — the effectiveness and safety of dinoprostone compared to misoprostol

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the presence of the disease in pregnancy influences the effectiveness and safety of delivery preinduction with prostaglandins: misoprostol vaginal insert and dinoprostone vaginal gel.Material and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted of 560 pregnant women. The concomitant diseases mainly recorded were diabetes mellitus, hypertensive diseases, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, asthma, thrombocytopenia, and hypothyroidism. The primary study outcome was a successful vaginal delivery. The study above others evaluates the time from treatment implementation to the beginning of a labor and to a final delivery, the rate of Cesarean sections, and the presence of delivery complications.Results: Among women with a concomitant disease, Caesarean section was observed more frequently in the misoprostol group. In the dinoprostone group, mothers with the concomitant disease as compared to healthy mothers required more time to the delivery and to achieve the beginning of labor. There were no differences in postpartum complications regardless of the prostaglandins, comorbidities or mothers’ age. Neonates of mothers ≥ 35 years old with concomitant disease had lower average Apgar scores.Conclusions: Our study showed that comorbidities seem to increase the caesarean section risk in the misoprostol preinduction group but in the dinoprostone group they prolong the time needed to achieve an active labour phase and a delivery

The association between obesity and back pain in nine countries: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The association between obesity and back pain has mainly been studied in high-income settings with inconclusive results, and data from older populations and developing countries are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess this association in nine countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America among older adults using nationally-representative data. METHODS: Data on 42116 individuals ≥50 years who participated in the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe (COURAGE) study conducted in Finland, Poland, and Spain in 2011-2012, and the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) conducted in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa in 2007-2010 were analysed. Information on measured height and weight available in the two datasets was used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). Self-reported back pain occurring in the past 30 days was the outcome. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between BMI and back pain. RESULTS: The prevalence of back pain ranged from 21.5% (China) to 57.5% (Poland). In the multivariable analysis, compared to BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2), significantly higher odds for back pain were observed for BMI ≥35 kg/m(2) in Finland (OR 3.33), Russia (OR 2.20), Poland (OR 2.03), Spain (OR 1.56), and South Africa (OR 1.48); BMI 30.0-34.0 kg/m(2) in Russia (OR 2.76), South Africa (OR 1.51), and Poland (OR 1.47); and BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2) in Russia (OR 1.51) and Poland (OR 1.40). No significant associations were found in the other countries. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of the association between obesity and back pain may vary by country. Future studies are needed to determine the factors contributing to differences in the associations observed

The association between obesity and severe disability among adults aged 50 or over in nine high-income, middle-income and low-income countries: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: The association between obesity and disability may differ between high-income and low-income/middle-income countries but there are no studies comparing this association between these settings. The aim of the study was to assess this association in nine countries using nationally-representative data from the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe (COURAGE) study and the WHO's Study on global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE). DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study SETTING: The survey was conducted in China, Finland, Ghana, India, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa and Spain between 2007 and 2012. PARTICIPANTS: 42 116 individuals 50 years and older. The institutionalised and those with limited cognition were excluded. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Disability was defined as severe or extreme difficulty in conducting at least one of six types of basic activities of daily living (ADL). RESULTS: The mean body mass index (BMI) ranged from 20.4 kg/m(2) in India to 30.7 kg/m(2) in South Africa. Compared to normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)), BMI≥35 kg/m(2) was associated with significantly higher odds for ADL disability in Finland (OR 4.64), Poland (OR 2.77), South Africa (OR 2.19) and Spain (OR 2.42). Interaction analysis showed that obese individuals in high-income countries were more likely to have ADL limitations than those in low-income or middle-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: The higher odds for disability among obese individuals in high-income countries may imply longer life lived with disability due to factors such as the decline in cardiovascular disease mortality. In South Africa, this may have been due to the exceptionally high prevalence of class III obesity. These findings underscore the importance of obesity prevention to reduce the disability burden among older adults. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions

Does dietary calcium interact with dietary fiber against colorectal cancer? : a case-control study in Central Europe

BACKGROUND: An unfavorable trend of increasing rates of colorectal cancer has been observed across modern societies. In general, dietary factors are understood to be responsible for up to 70% of the disease’s incidence, though there are still many inconsistencies regarding the impact of specific dietary items. Among the dietary minerals, calcium intake may play a crucial role in the prevention. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of intake of higher levels of dietary calcium on the risk of developing of colorectal cancer, and to evaluate dose dependent effect and to investigate possible effect modification. METHODS: A hospital based case–control study of 1556 patients (703 histologically confirmed colon and rectal incident cases and 853 hospital-based controls) was performed between 2000–2012 in Krakow, Poland. The 148-item semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess dietary habits and level of nutrients intake was used. Data regarding possible covariates was also collected. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, gender, education, consumption of fruits, raw and cooked vegetables, fish, and alcohol, as well as for intake of fiber, vitamin C, dietary iron, lifetime recreational physical activity, BMI, smoking status, and taking mineral supplements, an increase in the consumption of calcium was associated with the decrease of colon cancer risk (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89-0.98 for every 100 mg Ca/day increase). Subjects consumed >1000 mg/day showed 46% decrease of colon cancer risk (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.35-0.83). The effect of dietary calcium was modified by dietary fiber (p for interaction =0.015). Finally, consistent decrease of colon cancer risk was observed across increasing levels of dietary calcium and fiber intake. These relationships were not proved for rectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the effect of high doses of dietary calcium against the risk of colon cancer development. This relationship was observed across different levels of dietary fiber, and the beneficial effect of dietary calcium depended on the level of dietary fiber suggesting modification effect of calcium and fiber. Further efforts are needed to confirm this association, and also across higher levels of dietary fiber intake

Economy matters to fight against malnutrition: results from a multicenter survey

Background and Aim: Malnutrition represents a serious health care threat, as it increases morbidity, mortality and health care cost. The effective screening and treatment with enteral (EN) or parenteral (PN) nutrition are the key elements of the policy called Optimal Nutrition Care for All (ONCA). The study tried to analyze the impact of the state’s economy on the implementation of EN and PN to define its role in ONCA. Material and Methods: an international survey in twenty two European countries was performed between January and December 2014. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to 22 representatives of clinical nutrition (PEN) societies. The questionnaire comprised questions regarding country economy, reimbursement, education and the use EN and PN. Return rate was 90.1% (n=20) Results: EN and PN were used in all countries surveyed (100%), but to different extent. The country’s income significantly influenced the reimbursement for EN and PN (p0.05). Education was actively carried out in all countries, however the teaching at the pre-graduate level was the least widespread, and also correlated with the country income (p=0.042). Conclusions: Results indicated that economic situation influences all aspects of ONCA, including education and treatment. The reimbursement for EN and PN seemed to be the key factor of effective campaign against malnutrition

Odds of colorectal cancer related to an increase in chromosome aberrations and to an increase in a number of fruit and vegetable servings.

<p>Odds of colorectal cancer related to an increase in chromosome aberrations and to an increase in a number of fruit and vegetable servings.</p

Representative example of a normal metaphase spread detected by fluorescence <i>in situ</i> hybridization (FISH) using whole chromosome paints.

<p>Chromosome pairs 1 are painted red, 2 (green) and 4 (yellow).</p

Comparison of Misoprostol versus Dinoprostone for delivery induction among pregnant women without concomitant disease

Objectives: Induction of labour is a part of an active prenatal care nowadays and the ideal method of that procedure stillremains to be identified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of misoprostol vaginal insert as comparedto dinoprostone gel for delivery induction in pregnant women without any comorbidities.Material and methods: It was a retrospective cohort study of 240 pregnant women. The primary study outcome wassuccessful delivery. Other analysed parameters included time to delivery of a baby, time to the beginning of the first stageof labour, time to vaginal delivery, and duration of all delivery stages. We compared both methods regarding maternalcomplications during and after delivery. We also reviewed neonatal outcomes such as birth weight, birth length and1-minute Apgar scores.Results: The patients’ basic characteristics were similar regarding their age, gravidity, parity, height, weight and Bishopscore. Time to any delivery and to the onset of a labour in the misoprostol group versus in the dinoprostone group was14.5 vs 35.6 h (p &lt; 0.001) and 9.9 h vs 25.3 h (p &lt; 0.001) respectively. The chance of the beginning of labour and the baby’sdelivery over time has been observed to be approximately two times higher for misoprostol as compared to dinoprostone.Conclusions: Our study showed that using misoprostol vaginal insert in comparison to dinoprostone seems to shorten thetime to beginning of the first stage of labour as well as the time to the delivery itself. Some lower Apgar scores observedin the misoprostol group requires further investigation

Factors associated with caesarean section in women referred for preinduction — a nested case-control study in dinoprostone and misoprostol groups

Obj Objectives: Induction of labour is a beneficial perinatal procedure, but may be associated with some risks. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the need for Caesarean section in women referred for preinduction with dinoprostone and misoprostol. Material and methods: It was a retrospective cohort study of 560 pregnant women who underwent labour induction for medical reasons. Analyses were performed separately in the dinoprostone and misoprostol group. Above other characteristics, the diameters of the pelvis and abdominal circumference of pregnant women were analysed. Results: There were some mothers’ characteristics like age, weight, BMI, presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes, which were not associated with Caesarean section deliveries. Women in the misoprostol group with gestational age less than 38 weeks had an increased risk of Caesarean section (OR 2.189; p = 0.041).  The analyses of combined effect of mothers age and parity history showed 6.7 (in dinoprostone group) and over 10 times (in misoprostol group) increased the risk of Caesarean section in nulliparous women over 35 years of age. Conclusions: The increased risk of Caesarean delivery in the dinoprostone group was combined with the intertrochanteric dimensions such as the mother’s height measuring less than 165 cm, nulliparity and hypertension. In the misoprostol group, strong risk factors for Caesarean delivery were mothers aged 35 years or more, gestational age less than 38 weeks and  nulliparity and hypertension as in dinoprostone group. The oxytocin infusion had increased the risk of Caesarean section only in the combined dinoprostone and misoprostol group. Further high-quality studies are warranted