Trial of Labor Compared With Cesarean Delivery in Superobese Women.

Objective: To examine whether labor compared with planned cesarean delivery is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all women with body mass indexes (BMIs) at delivery of 50 or greater delivering a live fetus at 34 weeks of gestation of greater between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2015. Pregnancies with multiple gestations and major fetal anomalies were excluded.

Neonatal carotid repair at ECMO decannulation: patency rates and early neurologic outcomes.

Purpose: Neonates placed on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) undergo either carotid repair or ligation at decannulation. Study aims were to evaluate carotid patency rates after repair and to compare early neurologic outcomes between repaired and ligated patients.

Methods: A retrospective study of all neonates without congenital heart disease (CHD) who had VA-ECMO between 1989 and 2012 was completed using our institutional ECMO Registry.

Assessing gonadal function after childhood ovarian surgery.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the late effects of ovarian salvage or oophorectomy on gonadal function and fertility as measured by menstrual regularity.

Methods: We performed a 10-year retrospective review of females aged 20 years or younger who required surgery to treat an ovarian disorder. A mail survey was distributed to these patients to evaluate the effects of ovarian surgery on menarche, menstrual regularity, and pregnancy.

The role of therapeutic angiogenesis in tissue repair and regeneration.

Purpose: To provide the physician and registered professional nurse with an understanding of angiogenesis and an overview of therapeutic angiogenesis modalities used to manage wounds and other tissue repair situations.

Target Audience: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in learning more about angiogenesis and therapeutic angiogenesis modalities to manage wounds and other tissue repair situations.

Objectives: After reading the article and taking the test, the participant should be able to:

Imiquimod as an antiangiogenic agent.

Imiquimod (imidazoquinoline 5%) is a topical immune response modifier agent that inhibits angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. In addition to its stimulation of cell-mediated immunity, imiquimod's antiangiogenic activity contributes to its clinical efficacy by interfering with pathological neovascularization that promotes disease progression. The antiangiogenic mechanisms of imiquimod are due to its: 1) induction of cytokines that themselves inhibit angiogenesis (interferons, IL-10, IL-12); 2) local up-regulation of endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors (TIMP, TSP-1); 3) local down-regulation of pro-angiogenic factors (bFGF, MMP-9); and 4) promotion of endothelial cell apoptosis.