Reliability of self reported smoking status by pregnant women for estimating smoking prevalence: a retrospective, cross sectional study.

Objective: To determine what impact reliance on self reported smoking status during pregnancy has on both the accuracy of smoking prevalence figures and access to smoking cessation services for pregnant women in Scotland.

Design: Retrospective, cross sectional study of cotinine measurements in stored blood samples.

Participants: Random sample (n=3475) of the 21 029 pregnant women in the West of Scotland who opted for second trimester prenatal screening over a one year period.

First-trimester contingent screening for Down syndrome can reduce the number of nuchal translucency measurements required.

Background: To assess the performance of a two-stage screening protocol for Down syndrome based on initial serum marker analysis for all women and nuchal translucency (NT) measurement only in women with intermediate risks.

Methods: Biochemical marker and NT data in 10 189 women who had had combined ultrasound and biochemical (CUB) screening, were re-analysed using the contingent model. A risk was calculated from the results of the pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (FbetahCG) measurements and maternal age.

Filaggrin mutations are genetic modifying factors exacerbating X-linked ichthyosis.

Mutations inactivating the STS gene cause X-linked ichthyosis (XLI), whereas null mutations in the FLG gene cause ichthyosis vulgaris. Two brothers presented with XLI. One had a typical fine scaling, and the other was much more severely affected.

Circulating angiogenic factors in early pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth, and stillbirth.

Objective: To estimate the relationship between maternal serum levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) in early pregnancy with the risk of subsequent adverse outcome.

Methods: A nested, case-control study was performed within a prospective cohort study of Down syndrome screening. Maternal serum levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF at 10-14 weeks of gestation were compared between 939 women with complicated pregnancies and 937 controls.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and alpha-fetoprotein and prediction of adverse perinatal outcome.

Objective: To describe the association between pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and adverse perinatal outcome.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study of 8,483 women attending for prenatal care in southern Scotland between 1998 and 2000. The risk of delivering a small for gestational age infant, delivering preterm, and stillbirth were related to maternal serum levels of PAPP-A and AFP.

First-trimester placentation and the risk of antepartum stillbirth.

Context: Preterm birth and low birth weight are determined, at least in part, during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, it is unknown whether the risk of stillbirth is also determined during the first trimester.

Objective: To determine whether the risk of antepartum stillbirth varies in relation to circulating markers of placental function measured during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The acute effects of heavy loads on jump squat performance: an evaluation of the complex and contrast methods of power development.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine power performance in jump squats when using the complex and contrast training methods. Eleven (n = 11) women participated in a familiarization session and in three randomly ordered testing sessions. One session involved completing sets of power exercises (jump squats) before sets of half squats (traditional method).

Combined ultrasound and biochemical screening for Down's syndrome in the first trimester: a Scottish multicentre study.

Objective: To evaluate the use of ultrasound measurements of fetal nuchal translucency (NT) obtained in a routine antenatal clinic setting in combination with appropriate biochemical markers as a first trimester screening test for Down's Syndrome.

Design: Multicentre observational study.

Setting: Fifteen Scottish maternity units.

Early pregnancy levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein a and the risk of intrauterine growth restriction, premature birth, preeclampsia, and stillbirth.

The risk of adverse perinatal outcome among 8839 women recruited to a multicenter, prospective cohort study was related to maternal circulating concentrations of trophoblast-derived proteins at 8-14 wk gestation. Women with a pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in the lowest fifth percentile at 8-14 wk gestation had an increased risk of intrauterine growth restriction [adjusted odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.