The relationship between the ultrasonographic diagnosis of innocent amniotic band development and pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the importance of amniotic bands diagnosed ultrasonographically and their relationship to pregnancy outcome. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the ultrasonographic records at State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and Kings County Hospital Center, identifying 25 cases of amniotic band diagnosed during 1986-1990. Cases were compared with 50 controls who had ultrasound evaluation at the same gestational age. Outcomes studied included fetal anomalies, obstetric factors or complications, pregnancy outcome, and maternal factors that may have predisposed to the formation of bands. RESULTS: All cases had unrestricted fetal movement on the index sonogram. No fetal abnormalities were observed in either the case or control series. The groups were not significantly different in terms of maternal risk factors, but significant differences were found for delivery at less than 37 weeks and birth weight less than 2500 g. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic diagnosis of an amniotic band in connection with sonographic findings of normal fetal anatomy may be a risk factor for preterm delivery and low birth weight. No association between amniotic band development and fetal anomalies was observed

On the pathway to better birth outcomes? A systematic review of azithromycin and curable sexually transmitted infections.

The WHO recommends the administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) to all pregnant women living in areas of moderate (stable) to high malaria transmission during scheduled antenatal visits, beginning in the second trimester and continuing to delivery. Malaria parasites have lost sensitivity to SP in many endemic areas, prompting the investigation of alternatives that include azithromycin-based combination (ABC) therapies. Use of ABC therapies may also confer protection against curable sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs). The magnitude of protection at the population level would depend on the efficacy of the azithromycin-based regimen used and the underlying prevalence of curable STIs/RTIs among pregnant women who receive preventive treatment. This systematic review summarizes the efficacy data of azithromycin against curable STIs/RTIs

Short-term relationships between emergency hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and fine particulate air pollution in Beirut, Lebanon

International audienceHigh levels of major outdoor air pollutants have been documented in Lebanon, but their health effects remain unknown. The Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects study aimed to determine the relationship between short-term variations in ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and emergency hospital admissions in the city of Beirut, and whether susceptible groups are more greatly affected. An autoregressive Poisson model was used to evaluate the association between daily concentrations of particulate matter and respiratory and cardiovascular emergency hospital admissions after controlling for confounders. All variables were measured during 1 year from January 2012 to December 2012. Relative risks of admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases were calculated for an increase in 10 μg.m−3 of pollutant concentrations. Total respiratory admissions were significantly associated with the levels of PM10 (1.012 [95 % CI 1.004–1.02]) per 10 μg.m−3 rise in daily mean pollutant concentration for PM10 and 1.016 [95 % CI 1.000–1.032] for PM2.5 on the same day. With regard to susceptible groups, total respiratory admissions were associated with PM2.5 and PM10 within the same day in children (relative risk (RR), 1.013 and 1.014; 95 % confidence interval, 0.985–1.042 and 1.000–1.029 for PM2.5 and PM10, respectively). Moreover, a nearly significant association was found between particles and total circulatory admissions for adults and elderly groups in the same day. These results are similar to other international studies. Therefore, air pollution control is expected to reduce the number of admissions of these diseases in Lebanon