Charité Caesarean Birth Improves Birth Experience in Planned and Unplanned Caesarean Sections While Maintaining Maternal and Neonatal Safety: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: In this study, we aimed to assess the safety of a modified caesarean delivery (Charite caesarean birth) in an extended frame of indications, and to examine its impact on parents' birth experience and long-term effects. Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed from January to June 2019. A standardized questionnaire was given to all women who gave birth as an inpatient delivery. Eight months after hospital discharge, all women who gave consent were sent a follow-up questionnaire including questions on current feelings, breast feeding, bonding, and support system, as well as a screening for postnatal depression. Indications for caesarean delivery included preterm birth, fetal malpresentation, fetal malformation, twin pregnancy, and maternal pre-existing conditions. Results: The study cohort included 110 women. The mode of delivery was spontaneous in 49%, per vacuum extraction in 15%, conventional caesarean section in 7%, and Charite caesarean birth in 29%. The groups with Charite versus conventional caesarean delivery did not significantly differ in neonatal admission rates, umbilical cord parameters, maternal blood loss, or duration of surgery. Compared to conventional caesarean delivery, women who underwent a Charite caesarean delivery were significantly more satisfied with their birth experience. At follow-up, the mode of delivery was not associated with significant differences in postnatal depression, breast feeding, or bonding parameters. Conclusions: Outside of emergency situations, Charite caesarean birth improves patients' well-being, without increased maternal and neonatal morbidity

Propulsive efficiency in swimming : the knowledge and practices of teachers and coaches

Resumo: A eficiência propulsiva da braçada (ηp) pode ser descrita como o percentual da força aplicada pelo nadador na água que contribui para seu deslocamento à frente. Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar o conhecimento, o processo avaliativo e pedagógico de professores e treinadores de natação sobre a ηp, além de fornecer sugestões que promovam a inserção da ηp nas aulas e treinos de natação. Um questionário com seis questões fechadas e três questões abertas, previamente analisado e aprovado por três doutores com experiência teórico-prática no tema da ηp, foi respondido de modo eletrônico por 117 professores e treinadores de natação. Utilizou-sea frequência relativa para a descrição das variáveis categóricas e as associações foram verificadas com teste de X2. O programa SPSS v.20.0 foi utilizado para as análises, alfa foi estabelecido em 5%. As respostas das questões abertas foram analisadas de modo qualitativo. Grande parte dos participantes trabalha com natação há mais de 6 anos (73,4%), possui título de especialista (34,2%), e trabalha em mais de uma área da natação (44,4%). A maioria afirmou conhecer (75,2%) e aplicar (69,2%) o conceito de eficiência propulsiva, mas 53% não medem a ηp nas aulas e nos treinos, além disso apenas 9 de 99 respondentes (9,1%) descreveram corretamente o conceito de ηp. Associações significativas (p < 0,05) foram encontradas entre: (i) formação e aplicação do conceito de ηp (X2 = 12,3); (ii) formação e mensuração da ηp (X2 = 21,1) e (iii) tempo de atuação na área e mensuração da ηp (X2 = 9,7). Sendo a ηp importante para a técnica dos nadadores, sua inclusão é fundamental na formação e no treinamento, logo são necessários conhecimentos corretos, assim como práticas pedagógicas e avaliativas relacionadas ao conceito, a fim de incrementar a técnica de nado.Abstract: The propulsive efficiency of the stroke (ηp) can be described as the percentage of force applied by the swimmer in the water that contributes to its displacement forward. This study aimed to verify the knowledge, the evaluation and pedagogical process of teachers and coaches of swimming about the ηp, in addition to providing suggestions to promote the insertion of ηp in swimming classes and training. A questionnaire with six closed questions and three open questions, previously analyzed and approved by three doctors with theoretical and practical experience in the subject of ηp, was answered electronically by 117 swimming teachers and coaches. Relative frequency was used for the description of categorical variables and associations were verified with X2 test. SPSS v.20.0 software was used for the analyses, alpha was set at 5%. The answers to the open questions were analyzed qualitatively. Most of the participants have worked with swimming for more than 6 years (73.4%), have a specialist title (34.2%), and work in more than one area of swimming (44.4%). Most claimed to know (75.2%) and apply (69.2%) the concept of propulsive efficiency, but 53% do not measure ηp in lessons and training, moreover only 9 of 99 respondents (9.1%) correctly described the concept of ηp. Significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between: (i) formation and application of the concept of ηp (X2 = 12.3); (ii) formation and measurement of ηp (X2 = 21.1) and (iii) time of performance in the area and measurement of ηp (X2 = 9.7). Being the ηp important for the technique of swimmers, its inclusion is fundamental in the formation and training, therefore, correct knowledge is necessary, as well as pedagogical and evaluative practices related to the concept, in order to increase the swimming technique

Determining Structure-Activity Relationships in Oxide Derived CuSn Catalysts During CO2 Electroreduction Using X-Ray Spectroscopy

The development of earth-abundant catalysts for selective electrochemical CO2 conversion is a central challenge. Cu-Sn bimetallic catalysts can yield selective CO2 reduction toward either CO or formate. This study presents oxide-derived Cu-Sn catalysts tunable for either product and seeks to understand the synergetic effects between Cu and Sn causing these selectivity trends. The materials undergo significant transformations under CO2 reduction conditions, and their dynamic bulk and surface structures are revealed by correlating observations from multiple methods—X-ray absorption spectroscopy for in situ study, and quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface sensitivity. For both types of catalysts, Cu transforms to metallic Cu0 under reaction conditions. However, the Sn speciation and content differ significantly between the catalyst types: the CO-selective catalysts exhibit a surface Sn content of 13 at. % predominantly present as oxidized Sn, while the formate-selective catalysts display an Sn content of ≈70 at. % consisting of both metallic Sn0 and Sn oxide species. Density functional theory simulations suggest that Snδ+ sites weaken CO adsorption, thereby enhancing CO selectivity, while Sn0 sites hinder H adsorption and promote formate production. This study reveals the complex dependence of catalyst structure, composition, and speciation with electrochemical bias in bimetallic Cu catalysts

In vivo imaging of CD8+ T cell-mediated elimination of malaria liver stages

CD8+ T cells are specialized cells of the adaptive immune system capable of finding and eliminating pathogen-infected cells. To date it has not been possible to observe the destruction of any pathogen by CD8+ T cells in vivo. Here we demonstrate a techni

Lifestyle Behaviours of Children and Adolescents During the First Two Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Switzerland and Their Relation to Well-Being: An Observational Study

Objectives: To describe changes in adherence to recommendations for physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep duration over the first two waves of the pandemic in Switzerland, and to assess the associations of these lifestyle behaviours with life satisfaction and overall health as well-being indicators.Methods: In this observational study, we included 2,534 participants (5–16 years) from four Swiss cantons. Participants, or their parents, completed repeated questionnaires and reported on their (child’s) lifestyle and well-being, between June 2020 and April 2021. We used linear and logistic regression models to assess the associations between lifestyle and well-being.Results: The percentage of children meeting the recommendations for PA and ST decreased from the pre-pandemic period to the first wave, with a slight recovery during the second wave. Participants meeting all three recommendations during the second wave were more likely to report excellent health (OR: 1.65 [95% CI: 1.00–2.76]) and higher life satisfaction (β: 0.46 [0.16–0.77]) in early 2021 than participants not meeting any recommendation.Conclusion: We showed a substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s and adolescents’ lifestyle, and a positive association between meeting lifestyle recommendations and well-being

Notch1 regulates angio-supportive bone marrow-derived cells in mice: relevance to chemoresistance

Host responses to chemotherapy can induce resistance mechanisms that facilitate tumor regrowth. To determine the contribution of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs), we exposed tumor-bearing mice to chemotherapeutic agents and evaluated the influx and contribution of a genetically traceable subpopulation of BMDCs (vascular endothelial-cadherin-Cre-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein [VE-Cad-Cre-EYFP]). Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with different chemotherapeutics resulted in a three- to 10-fold increase in the influx of VE-Cad-Cre-EYFP. This enhanced influx was accompanied by a significant increase in angiogenesis. Expression profile analysis revealed a progressive change in the EYFP population with loss of endothelial markers and an increase in mononuclear markers. In the tumor, 2 specific populations of VE-Cad-Cre-EYFP BMDCs were identified: Gr1(+)/CD11b(+) and Tie2(high)/platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule(low) cells, both located in perivascular areas. A common signature of the EYFP population that exits the bone marrow is an increase in Notch. Inducible inactivation of Notch in the EYFP+ BMDCs impaired homing of these BMDCs to the tumor. Importantly, Notch deletion reduced therapy-enhanced angiogenesis, and was associated with an increased antitumor effect of the chemotherapy. These findings revealed the functional significance of a specific population of supportive BMDCs in response to chemotherapeutics and uncovered a new potential strategy to enhance anticancer therapy

Organ-focused mutual information for nonrigid multimodal registration of liver CT and Gd–EOB–DTPA-enhanced MRI

Accurate detection of liver lesions is of great importance in hepatic surgery planning. Recent studies have shown that the detection rate of liver lesions is significantly higher in gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd–EOB–DTPA-enhanced MRI) than in contrast-enhanced portal-phase computed tomography (CT); however, the latter remains essential because of its high specificity, good performance in estimating liver volumes and better vessel visibility. To characterize liver lesions using both the above image modalities, we propose a multimodal nonrigid registration framework using organ-focused mutual information (OF-MI). This proposal tries to improve mutual information (MI) based registration by adding spatial information, benefiting from the availability of expert liver segmentation in clinical protocols. The incorporation of an additional information channel containing liver segmentation information was studied. A dataset of real clinical images and simulated images was used in the validation process. A Gd–EOB–DTPA-enhanced MRI simulation framework is presented. To evaluate results, warping index errors were calculated for the simulated data, and landmark-based and surface-based errors were calculated for the real data. An improvement of the registration accuracy for OF-MI as compared with MI was found for both simulated and real datasets. Statistical significance of the difference was tested and confirmed in the simulated dataset (p < 0.01)