Increasing Neonatal Mortality among Palestine Refugees in the Gaza Strip.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has periodically estimated infant mortality rates among Palestine refugees in Gaza. These surveys have recorded a decline from 127 per 1000 live births in 1960 to 20.2 in 2008.We used the same preceding-birth technique as in previous surveys. All multiparous mothers who came to the 22 UNRWA health centres to register their last-born child for immunization were asked if their preceding child was alive or dead. We based our target sample size on the infant mortality rate in 2008 and included 3128 mothers from August until October 2013. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of infant mortality.Infant mortality in 2013 was 22.4 per 1000 live births compared with 20.2 in 2008 (p = 0.61), and this change reflected a statistically significant increase in neonatal mortality (from 12.0 to 20.3 per 1000 live births, p = 0.01). The main causes of the 65 infant deaths were preterm birth (n = 25, 39%), congenital anomalies (n = 19, 29%), and infections (n = 12, 19%). Risk factors for infant death were preterm birth (OR 9.88, 3.98-24.85), consanguinity (2.41, 1.35-4.30) and high-risk pregnancies (3.09, 1.46-6.53).For the first time in five decades, mortality rates have increased among Palestine refugee newborns in Gaza. The possible causes of this trend may include inadequate neonatal care. We will estimate infant and neonatal mortality rates again in 2015 to see if this trend continues and, if so, to assess how it can be reversed

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment following intravitreal ocriplasmin

To describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients presenting with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after ocriplasmin (OCP) injection. Retrospective, multi-centre, observational case series with case note review. Eight patients with symptomatic vitreomacular traction (six with concomitant macular hole) were diagnosed with RRD after a median of 16 days (range 3-131 days) post-OCP injection. Presentation was within 3 weeks of the OCP injection in six of the cases. Five patients presented with symptoms post-OCP, and three were diagnosed asymptomatically on planned visits. Seven cases were phakic, one had high myopia (>8 dioptres), and two cases had lattice degeneration. Following RRD surgery, hole closure was achieved in 5/6 MH cases. The final median BCVA at 7 months was 20/80 (range 20/40-20/1200) similar to the baseline BCVA 20/80, with four patients gaining ≥1 line of vision compared to baseline but three losing ≥3 lines. RRD is a non-negligible risk associated with intravitreal OCP, and it should be used with caution in eyes with high myopia and peripheral retinal pathology predisposing to RRD. Detailed peripheral retinal examination is recommended pre- and postoperatively at all visits. Patients should be advised to seek attention if symptoms recur after initial presentatio

Trend of mortality rates.

<p>Infant, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality rate per 1000 live births among Palestine refugees in Gaza (Sources UNRWA surveys¹⁰ conducted in 1997, 2003, 2008 and 2013, with reference times of 1995, 2001, 2006 and 2011, respectively).</p

Causes of infant death in current and previous survey.

<p>Causes of infant death in current and previous survey.</p