Proteomic Analysis of Early Mid-Trimester Amniotic Fluid Does Not Predict Spontaneous Preterm Delivery.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to identify early proteomic biomarkers of spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD) in mid-trimester amniotic fluid from asymptomatic women. METHODS:This is a case-cohort study. Amniotic fluid from mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis (14-19 weeks of gestation) was collected from 2008 to 2011. The analysis was conducted in 24 healthy women with subsequent spontaneous PTD (cases) and 40 randomly selected healthy women delivering at term (controls). An exploratory phase with proteomics analysis of pooled samples was followed by a verification phase with ELISA of individual case and control samples. RESULTS:The median (interquartile range (IQR: 25th; 75th percentiles) gestational age at delivery was 35+5 (33+6-36+6) weeks in women with spontaneous PTD and 40+0 (39+1-40+5) weeks in women who delivered at term. In the exploratory phase, the most pronounced differences were found in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, that were approximately two-fold higher in the pooled case samples than in the pooled control samples. However, we could not verify these differences with ELISA. The median (25th; 75th IQR) CRP level was 95.2 ng/mL (64.3; 163.5) in women with spontaneous PTD and 86.0 ng/mL (51.2; 145.8) in women delivering at term (p = 0.37; t-test). CONCLUSIONS:Proteomic analysis with mass spectrometry of mid-trimester amniotic fluid suggests CRP as a potential marker of spontaneous preterm delivery, but this prognostic potential was not verified with ELISA

Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) summarises a heterogeneous group of patients with different chromosomal pathologies, including 45,X0 monosomy, mosaicism and structural abnormalities of the X chromosome. Monosomies usually lead to very early premature ovarian insufficiency, whereas mosaicism and structural abnormalities may preserve fertility. The genotype should therefore be taken into account in the indication for and implementation of a fertility preservation measure. The increased pregnancy risks in Turner syndrome must also be considered. Fertility preservation measures include freezing of oocytes and possibly ovarian tissue

Effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole in a real-world outpatient population of youth

Amaç: Ayaktan tedavi edilen ergen hastalarda aripipra- zolün endikasyon dışı kullanım özelliklerini belirlemek ve geniş bir yelpazede ruhsal belirti ve bozukluk gösteren ergenlerin tedavisinde aripiprazolün etkinliğini ve tolerabi- litesini saptamaktır. Yöntem: Hasta dosyaları geriye dönük kayıt taraması yöntemiyle değerlendirilmiştir. Klinik Global izlenim (KGİ) ölçekleri, Kısa Semptom Envanteri (KSE) ve Extrapyramidal Belirtileri Değerlendirme Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Otuz bir hastanın verisine ulaşıldı. Örneklemin çoğu kız hastadan oluşmaktadır (%87.1). Ortalama yaş 16.38±1.14’dir ve 15-19 yaş arasındadır. Hastaların %67,8’inin en az bir komorbid bozukluğu vardır. En sık komorbid bozukluk, major depresif bozukluktur. Aripiprazolün ortala- ma başlangıç dozu 4.83±3.59 mg’dır (ranj:2,5-20 mg/ gün) ve son vizitteki ortalama doz 8.62±3.46 mg’dır. (ranj:2,5-15 mg/ gün). Ortalama aripiprazol tedavi süresi 19.56±1.23 aydır (ranj:4-48 ay). Son vizit KGİ şiddet puanları, başlangıç puanlarına göre anlamlı derecede daha düşüktür (p<0.001). Benzer şekilde, KSE depresyon (z: -3.232; p:0.001), KSE ank- siyete (z: -3.004; p:0.003), KSE hostilite (z:-3.207; p:0.001), KSE psikotisizm (z: -1.973; p:0.049), and KSE paranoid düşünceler (z:2.733; p:0.006) alt ölçek puanları istatiksel açıdan anlamlı farklılık göstermiştir. KSE Global Rahatsızlık Ölçek puanları arasında da, istatiksel açıdan anlamlı fark- lılık bulunmuştur (Rahatsızlık ciddiyeti indeksi: z: -2.987; p:0.003, Semptom rahatsızlık indeksi: z:-3.435; p:0.001 ve Belirti toplamı: z: -3.023; p:0.003). Altı hasta ilaç tedavisini kesmiştir. En sık istenmeyen etkiler yorgunluk (%50.0), uyuşukluk hali (%42.9) ve sersemliktir (%39.30). En şid- detli ekstrapiramidal belirtiler yavaşlık ve zafiyet olduğu izlenimi, günlük işleri yapmada güçlük (%11.5) ve bacakta, sırtta veya boyunda kramp ya da ağrı (%11.5)’dır. Olguların hiçbirinde bedende veya uzuvlarda anormal istem dışı hareketler saptanmamıştır. Sonuç: Aripiprazol, hastalar tarafından klinik pratiğimiz- de oldukça iyi tolere edilmiştir ve ayaktan tedavi edilen ergenlerde güvenli ve etkili bir seçenek olarak görünmek- tedir. Ancak, ileriye dönük randomize kontrollü çalışmaların yapılması gereklidir.Objectives: To identify the pattern of initiation for off- label use of aripiprazole among adolescent outpatients; determine whether or not aripiprazole is effective and tolerable for the treatment of adolescents with a wide range of psychiatric symptoms and disorders or not. Methods: Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for the effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole. The Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale were used. Results: The data were available on 31 patients. The sample consisted of mostly females (87.1%). The mean age was 16.38&plusmn;1.14 years, and the ages range was 15-19 years. Twenty-one patients (67.8%) had at least one comorbid disorder. The most common comorbid disorder was major depressive disorder. The mean initial dosage of aripiprazole was 4.83&plusmn;3.59 mg (2.50 mg - 20.00 mg), and the mean endpoint dosage was 8.62&plusmn;3.46 mg (2.50 mg - 15.00 mg). The mean duration of aripiprazole medication was 19.56&plusmn;1.23 months (range: 4-48 months). Endpoint CGI-S scores were significantly lower compared with baseline CGI-S score (p&lt;0.001). Similarly, the difference between depression severity (z=-3.232; p=0.001), anxiety severity (z=-3.004; p=0.003), hostility severity (z=-3.207; p=0.001), psychoticism severity (z=-1.973; p=0.049), and paranoid ideation severity (z=2.733; p=0.006) scores were statistically significant. The difference between the baseline and endpoint BSI Global Indices of distress scores were found to be statistically significant (The Global Severity Index: z=-2.987; p=0.003, the Positive Symptom Distress Index: z=-3.435; p=0.001, and the Positive Symptom Total: z=-3.023; p=0.003). Six cases (20.0%) discontinued the treatment. The most frequent adverse effects were asthenia (50.0%), somnolence (42.9%), and dizziness (39.30%). The most severe extrapyramidal symptoms were: impression of slowness or weakness, difficulty in carrying out routine tasks (11.5%), and tonic muscular contractions localized to one or several muscle groups, particularly in the throat, neck or back (11.5%). None of the cases had abnormal involuntary movements (dyskinesia) of the extremities or trunk. Conclusion: Aripiprazole was well tolerated and effective in our clinical practice and appears to be a safe and efficacious alternative in adolescents. However, a prospective clinical trial with a randomized controlled design is warranted

Species diversification – which species should we use?

Large detector systems for particle and astroparticle physics; Particle tracking detectors; Gaseous detectors; Calorimeters; Cherenkov detectors; Particle identification methods; Photon detectors for UV. visible and IR photons; Detector alignment and calibration methods; Detector cooling and thermo-stabilization; Detector design and construction technologies and materials. The LHCb experiment is dedicated to precision measurements of CP violation and rare decays of B hadrons at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN (Geneva). The initial configuration and expected performance of the detector and associated systems. as established by test beam measurements and simulation studies. is described. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA