Comparison of In-Hospital Maternal Mortality Between Hospital Systems in Queensland, Australia and Louisiana, United States.

Background: It is well documented that the American maternal mortality ratio has increased during the years 2000-2015. The Australian maternal mortality ratio, in contrast, has decreased during the same time period, a trend common among most Western countries.

Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study of cases of in-hospital maternal deaths in the Ochsner Health System (Louisiana, United States) and the Queensland Health System (Australia) from 1995 to 2013.

Alu Insertion Polymorphisms as Evidence for Population Structure in Baboons.

Male dispersal from the natal group at or near maturity is a feature of most baboon (Papio) species. It potentially has profound effects upon population structure and evolutionary processes, but dispersal, especially for unusually long distances, is not readily documented by direct field observation. In this pilot study, we investigate the possibility of retrieving baboon population structure in yellow (Papio cynocephalus) and kinda (Papio kindae) baboons from the distribution of variation in a genome-wide set of 494 Alu insertion polymorphisms, made available via the recently completed Baboon Genome Analysis Consortium.

Papio Baboon Species Indicative Alu Elements.

The genus of Papio (baboon) has six recognized species separated into Northern and Southern clades, each comprised of three species distributed across the African continent. Geographic origin and phenotypic variants such as coat color and body size have commonly been used to identify different species. The existence of multiple hybrid zones, both ancient and current, have complicated efforts to characterize the phylogeny of Papio baboons.

A review of the preventability of maternal mortality in one hospital system in Louisiana, USA.

Objective: To determine preventability of in-hospital maternal mortality in the Ochsner Health System (OHS) in the US state of Louisiana.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken of all known cases of in-hospital maternal death (during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination) that occurred within OHS facilities in 1995-2013. Associations between characteristics and mortality and preventability were investigated.