Health and economic benefits of achieving contraceptive and maternal health targets in Small Island Developing States in the Pacific and Caribbean.

Introduction: Reducing unmet need for modern contraception and expanding access to quality maternal health (MH) services are priorities for improving women's health and economic empowerment. To support investment decisions, we estimated the additional cost and expected health and economic benefits of achieving the United Nations targets of zero unmet need for modern contraceptive choices and 95% coverage of MH services by 2030 in select Small Island Developing States.

Methods: Five Pacific (Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) and four Caribbean (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Saint Lucia) countries were considered based on population survey data availability.

Optical coherence tomography angiography of central serous chorioretinopathy: quantitative evaluation of the vascular pattern and capillary flow density.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the vascular pattern and capillary flow density (CFD) map on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images of patients affected by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, OCTA (AngioVue RTVue XR Avanti, Optovue) 3 × 3 mm macula scans of both eyes of patients with CSC were taken at baseline; the images were segmented and compared with OCTA scans of fellow eyes without CSC as well as age-matched healthy subjects. OCTA images were processed by quantitative textural analysis (ImageJ software) to provide an objective grading of choroidal capillary alterations.

Integrated strategy for fast and automated molecular characterization of genes involved in craniosynostosis.

Background: Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of 1 or more sutures of the skull, is a common congenital defect, with a prevalence of 1 in 2500 live births. Untreated progressive craniosynostosis leads to inhibition of brain growth and increased intracranial and intraorbital pressure. The heterogeneity of clinical phenotypes and the overlap of the various associated syndromes render the correct diagnosis of the different craniosynostoses particularly difficult.

A controlled randomised trial of t-UDCA as adjuvant to interferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: an interferon sparing effect of t-UDCA.

BACKGROUND: Combination of the cytoprotective effect of tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid (t-UDCA) with the antiviral effect of interferon may be more effective than interferon alone for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: We randomised 106 patients with chronic hepatitis C to interferon 3 MU/m(2)/3 times per week given alone (regimen A, n=51) or in combination with t-UDCA 10 mg/kg/day (regimen B, n=55) for 6 months followed by IFN dose tapering for further 6 months. Control liver biopsies were obtained 6 months after stopping treatment.