Early warning systems for identifying severe maternal outcomes: findings from the WHO global maternal sepsis study.

Background: Infections and sepsis are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in women during pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period. Using data from the 2017 WHO Global Maternal Sepsis Study, we explored the use of early warning systems (EWS) in women at risk of sepsis-related severe maternal outcomes.

Methods: On April 27, 2023, we searched the literature for EWS in clinical use or research in obstetric populations.

β-Carotene Impacts the Liver MicroRNA Profile in a Sex-Specific Manner in Mouse Offspring of Western Diet-Fed Mothers: Results from Microarray Analysis by Direct Hybridization.

Maternal unbalanced diets cause adverse metabolic programming and affect the offspring's liver microRNA (miRNA) profile. The liver is a site of β-carotene (BC) metabolism and a target of BC action. We studied the interaction of maternal Western diet (WD) and early-life BC supplementation on the epigenetic remodeling of offspring's liver microRNAs.

Adapting the WHO hand hygiene 'reminders in the workplace' to improve acceptability for healthcare workers in maternity settings worldwide: a mixed methods study.

Introduction: Hand hygiene is key in preventing healthcare-associated infections, but it is challenging in maternity settings due to high patient turnover, frequent emergencies and volume of aseptic procedures. We sought to investigate if adaptions to the WHO hand hygiene reminders could improve their acceptability in maternity settings globally, and use these findings to develop new reminders specific to maternity settings.

Methods: Informed by Sekhon 's acceptability framework, we conducted an online survey, semi-structured interviews and a focus group examining the three WHO central hand hygiene reminders ('your five moments of hand hygiene', 'how to hand wash' and 'how to hand rub') and their acceptability in maternity settings.

Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy for Older Patients with Locally Advanced Non-Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Who Are Not Candidates for or Decline Surgery and Chemotherapy: A Practical Proposal by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The standard of care for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is either surgery combined with chemotherapy pre- or postoperatively or concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, older and frail patients may not be candidates for surgery and chemotherapy due to the high mortality risk and are frequently referred to radiotherapy alone, which is better tolerated but carries a high risk of disease recurrence. Recently, immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may induce a high response rate among cancer patients with positive programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression.

Development of a core outcome set for maternal and perinatal health research and surveillance in light of emerging and ongoing epidemic threats.

Background: Maternal and perinatal health is often directly and indirectly affected during infectious disease epidemics. Yet, a lack of evidence on epidemics' impact on women and their offspring delays informed decision-making for healthcare providers, pregnant women, women in the post-pregnancy period and policy-makers. To rapidly generate evidence in these circumstances, we aim to develop a Core Outcome Set (COS) for maternal and perinatal health research and surveillance in light of emerging and ongoing epidemic threats.

Use of social media in radiation oncology: multicenter data from the GOCO Group.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the usage patterns and profiles of social media (SM) platforms among Radiation Oncologists (RO) and Physicists in the scope of the Catalan-Occitan Oncology Group (GOCO).

Materials And Methods: From November 2022 to March 2023, a comprehensive survey was sent to Radiation Oncology professionals within the GOCO group, comprising 31 questions that covered demographics (4) and general inquiries (9), user behavior on social media (7), profile of SM activity (7), and participants' opinions (4) regarding professional use of SM. The survey reached professionals from 12 centers, encompassing 10 in Catalonia and 2 in French Occitania.

Clinical algorithms for the monitoring and management of spontaneous, uncomplicated labour and childbirth.

Aim: To develop evidence-based clinical algorithms for the assessment and management of spontaneous, uncomplicated labour and vaginal birth.

Population: Pregnant women at any stage of labour, with singleton, term pregnancies considered to be at low risk of developing complications.

Setting: Health facilities in low- and middle-income countries.

Temporal relationship between sarcoidosis and malignancies in a nationwide cohort of 1942 patients.

Purpose: To investigate the phenotype of sarcoidosis according to the time when a malignancy is diagnosed (preexisting to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, concomitant, or sequential) and to identify prognostic factors associated with malignancies in a large cohort of patients with sarcoidosis.

Methods: We searched for malignancies in the SARCOGEAS cohort, a multicenter nationwide database of consecutive patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis according to the ATS/ESC/WASOG criteria. Solid malignancies were classified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) nomenclature, and hematological malignancies using the 2016 WHO classification.

Engaging women to set the research agenda for assisted vaginal birth.

Introduction: Public and patient involvement can provide crucial insights to optimise research by enhancing relevance and appropriateness of studies. The World Health Organization (WHO) engaged in an inclusive process to ensure that both technical experts and women had a voice in defining the research gaps and needs to increase or reintroduce the use of assisted vaginal birth (AVB) in settings where this intervention is needed but unavailable or underused.

Methods: We describe the methods and outcomes of online workshops led by WHO to obtain women representatives' perspectives about AVB research gaps and needs.

Surrogate endpoints in phase III randomized trials of advanced gastroesophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Overall survival (OS) is the most meaningful endpoint in clinical trials. However, owing to their limitations, surrogate endpoints are commonly used and validation studies are required to assess their reliability. Analysis of phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of advanced gastroesophageal cancer (AGC) with > 100 patients, correlation coefficients (r), and determination coefficients (R²) between OS and surrogates were evaluated through meta-analyses.

Immunotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy for older patients with non-metastatic renal cancer unfit for surgery or decline nephrectomy: practical proposal by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The standard of care for non-metastatic renal cancer is surgical resection followed by adjuvant therapy for those at high risk for recurrences. However, for older patients, surgery may not be an option due to the high risk of complications which may result in death. In the past renal cancer was considered to be radio-resistant, and required a higher dose of radiation leading to excessive complications secondary to damage of the normal organs surrounding the cancer.

Early Life Programming of Adipose Tissue Remodeling and Browning Capacity by Micronutrients and Bioactive Compounds as a Potential Anti-Obesity Strategy.

The early stages of life, especially the period from conception to two years, are crucial for shaping metabolic health and the risk of obesity in adulthood. Adipose tissue (AT) plays a crucial role in regulating energy homeostasis and metabolism, and brown AT (BAT) and the browning of white AT (WAT) are promising targets for combating weight gain. Nutritional factors during prenatal and early postnatal stages can influence the development of AT, affecting the likelihood of obesity later on.

Effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the effects of COVID-19 vaccines in women before or during pregnancy on SARS-CoV-2 infection-related, pregnancy, offspring and reactogenicity outcomes.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Major databases between December 2019 and January 2023.

Viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in body fluids associated with sexual activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To identify and summarise the evidence on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA detection and persistence in body fluids associated with sexual activity (saliva, semen, vaginal secretion, urine and faeces/rectal secretion).

Eligibility: All studies that reported detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, semen, vaginal secretion, urine and faeces/rectal swabs.

Information Sources: The WHO COVID-19 database from inception to 20 April 2022.

Immigrant women's and families' views and experiences of routine postnatal care: findings from a qualitative evidence synthesis.

Background: Uptake of postnatal care (PNC) is low and inequitable in many countries, and immigrant women may experience additional challenges to access and effective use. As part of a larger study examining the views of women, partners, and families on routine PNC, we analysed a subset of data on the specific experiences of immigrant women and families.

Methods: This is a subanalysis of a larger qualitative evidence synthesis.

Integrating international policy standards in the implementation of postnatal care: a rapid review.

Introduction: International legal and political documents can assist policy-makers and programme managers in countries to create an enabling environment to promote maternal and newborn health. This review aimed to map and summarise international legal and political documents relevant to the implementation of the WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience.

Methods: Rapid review of relevant international legal and political documents, including legal and political commitments (declarations, resolutions and treaties) and interpretations (general comments, recommendations from United Nations human rights treaty bodies, joint United Nations statements).

Glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate supplementation decreases diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction in mice.

Glycosaminoglycans are complex carbohydrates used as nutraceuticals for diverse applications. We studied the potential of the glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate (DS) to counteract the development of diet-induced obesity (DIO) using obesity-prone mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) as a model. Oral DS supplementation protected the animals against HFD-induced increases in whole-body adiposity, visceral fat mass, adipocyte size, blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, and pro-inflammatory lipids levels in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the liver, where it largely counteracted the HFD-induced changes in the nonpolar metabolome.