Office hysteroscopy prior to ART cycle-analysis and outcome at a private IVF clinic setup in Surat, Gujarat, India

Background: Hysteroscopy is a gold standard test for assessing the uterine cavity. The presence of uterine pathology may negatively affect the chance of implantation .This study investigated the use of routine office hysteroscopy and correction of any intrauterine pathologies prior to starting IVF cycle on treatment outcome in women seeking IVF treatment for primary infertility and recurrent implantation failure.Methods: This was a retrospective study of 100 women who attended our infertility clinic from July 2016 to December 2016 and who were willing for office hysteroscopy. The main outcomes measured were clinical pregnancy rates achieved in the index IVF cycle, multiple pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and failure rate.Results: Of the 100 patients who participated in the study, 75 patients conceived, 25 patients failed to conceive. 80.64% patients with normal findings on diagnostic hysteroscopy conceived after the procedure, 58.33% patients conceived after polypectomy, 68.42% conceived after septal resection, 71.42% conceived after adhesiolysis, 50% conceived after lateral metroplasty and 73.07% of recurrent implantation failure conceived after local endometrial injury was done on hysteroscopy.Conclusions: Hysteroscopy in infertile women prior to their IVF cycle when performed atleast 3 months in advance could improve treatment outcome

A comparative study between agonist and antagonist protocol for ovarian stimulation in art cycles at a rural set up in South Gujarat

Background: Modern infertility practice provides us with several protocols for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for the ART (Assisted Reproductive Techniques) cycles. The review summarises the clinical characteristics of the protocols using Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists emphasising on the major clinical and laboratory outcomes with each protocol.Methods: A total of 322 cases undergoing ovarian stimulation with agonist and antagonist protocols in ART cycles at a rural set up at Killa Pardi in the year 2014 were studied and their laboratory and clinical outcomes were evaluated.Results: Antagonist group had the maximum number of oocytes retrieved and the mature M2 oocytes, maximum No. of follicles >16 mm on day of HCG, maximum No. of positive pregnancy rates. Agonist group had also a good pregnancy rate with maximum Grade I embryos.Conclusions: Taking all data together, it may be concluded that antagonists and minimal ovarian stimulation with antagonist protocols offer a new treatment regimen in ovarian stimulation that is short, safe, cost effective, well tolerated, optimizing convenience for the patient

A comparative study of pregnancy outcome of sequential versus day 3 versus only blastocyst (day 6) transfer at a single IVF center over one year

Background: The recent introduction of sequential media has refocused attention upon the role of human blastocyst in IVF.  For optimisation of extended cycles, one needs to give importance to all the aspects of treatment cycle like the stimulation regimens, medium composition, endometrial quality and uterine receptivity. This study was done to know the pregnancy outcomes of Day 3 transfer vs Day3/Day 6 transfer vs only Day 6 transfer.Methods: It was a retrospective study in which 342 patients undergoing ICSI were included. 199 women underwent Day 3/Day 6 sequential transfers, 112 underwent only Day 3 transfer and only 30 women were given only Blastocyst i.e. day 6 transfer. Pregnancy outcomes of all the three groups were studied.Results: Sequential transfer was found to give maximum pregnancy rate and highest implantation rate. But it was also associated with highest number of multiple pregnancies.Conclusions: Sequential transfer is a very good efficacious approach in ART cycles if extended media are available as it gave maximum pregnancy rate and implantation rate. However it is associated with multiple pregnancies. Thus the ultimate goal is to have a single blastocyst transfer with better outcomes and lower multiple pregnancy rates

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues experiences and published evidence. Methods: In late 2020, BJS contacted colleagues across the global surgical community and asked them to describe how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had affected their practice. In addition to this, the Commission undertook a literature review on the impact of COVID-19 on surgery and perioperative care. A thematic analysis was performed to identify the issues most frequently encountered by the correspondents, as well as the solutions and ideas suggested to address them. Results: BJS received communications for this Commission from leading clinicians and academics across a variety of surgical specialties in every inhabited continent. The responses from all over the world provided insights into multiple facets of surgical practice from a governmental level to individual clinical practice and training. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered a variety of problems in healthcare systems, including negative impacts on surgical practice. Global surgical multidisciplinary teams are working collaboratively to address research questions about the future of surgery in the post-COVID-19 era. The COVID-19 pandemic is severely damaging surgical training. The establishment of a multidisciplinary ethics committee should be encouraged at all surgical oncology centres. Innovative leadership and collaboration is vital in the post-COVID-19 era

MAPPING LOCAL PATTERNS OF CHILDHOOD OVERWEIGHT AND WASTING IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES BETWEEN 2000 AND 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues' experiences and published evidence