Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models.

The establishment of enclosed conservation areas are claimed to be the driving force for the long-term survival of wildlife populations. Whilst fencing provides an important tool in conservation, it simultaneously represents a controversial matter as it stops natural migration processes, which could ultimately lead to inbreeding, a decline in genetic diversity and local extinction if not managed correctly. Thus, wildlife residing in enclosed reserves requires effective conservation and management strategies, which are strongly reliant on robust population estimates.

Treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy: an observational study.

Background: Little is known about the treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy. We aimed to determine whether treatment for breast cancer during pregnancy is safe for both mother and child.

Methods: We recruited patients from seven European countries with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy; data were collected retrospectively if the patient was diagnosed before April, 2003 (when the registry began), or prospectively thereafter, irrespective of the outcome of pregnancy and the type and timing of treatment.

Chemotherapy during pregnancy: effect of anthracyclines on fetal and maternal cardiac function.

Chemotherapy and especially anthracyclines are associated to cardiotoxicity. To assess this potential risk during pregnancy a clinical case-control trial was conducted. Maternal cardiac function, fetal Doppler and fetal cardiac function were evaluated before and after chemotherapy.

Long-term cognitive and cardiac outcomes after prenatal exposure to chemotherapy in children aged 18 months or older: an observational study.

Background: Chemotherapy for the treatment of maternal cancers during pregnancy has become more acceptable in the past decade; however, the effect of prenatal exposure to chemotherapy on cardiac and neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring is still uncertain. We aimed to record the general health, cardiac function, and neurodevelopmental outcomes of children who were prenatally exposed to chemotherapy.

Methods: We did an interim analysis of a multicentre observational cohort study assessing children who were prenatally exposed to maternal cancer staging and treatment, including chemotherapy.

Tongue cancers during pregnancy: Case reports and review of literature.

Background: Due to its rarity, there is no standard treatment for tongue cancers that concur with pregnancy. Treatment depends on the stage of cancer, gestational age of the pregnancy, and the wish of the mother to maintain the pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to review the literature and to report 5 new cases.

Transplacental transfer of paclitaxel, docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab in a baboon model.

Background: The paucity of data on fetal effects of prenatal exposure to chemotherapy prompted us to study the transplacental transport of commonly used anticancer agents in a pregnant baboon model.

Methods: Single or combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel, docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab was administered to 9 baboons at a mean (SD) gestational age of 117 (26) days (paclitaxel, 100 mg/m2 [n = 2]; docetaxel, 100 mg/m2 [n = 2]; paclitaxel, 175 mg/m2 with carboplatin, area under the curve of 6 at standard dosage [n = 2] and 50% dosage [n = 1]; docetaxel, 75 mg/m2 with carboplatin, area under the curve 6 [n = 1]; and docetaxel, 75 mg/m2 with trastuzumab, 8 mg/kg [n = 1]). Serial fetal and maternal blood samples, amniotic fluid, maternal urine, and fetal and maternal tissue samples were collected for the first 76 hours after drug infusion.

Breast cancer during pregnancy: a literature review.

Breast cancer during pregnancy is relatively uncommon. However, the incidence is expected to increase as more women delay childbearing. A challenging situation emerges for all persons involved ‑ patient, family and medical care workers ‑ since two lives are at risk with contradicting priorities.

Tracheostomy home care: in a resource-limited setting.

Introduction: Home tracheostomy care for children in South Africa dates back to 1989.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the tracheostomy home programme at Tygerberg Children's Hospital (TCH), situated in a resource-limited setting in Cape Town, South Africa.

Design: Retrospective descriptive study.

Transplacental transfer of anthracyclines, vinblastine, and 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide in a baboon model.

Objective: The paucity of data on the fetal effects of prenatal exposure to chemotherapy prompted us to study transplacental transport of chemotherapeutic agents.

Methods: Fluorouracil-epirubicin-cyclophosphamide (FEC) and doxorubicin-bleomycin-vinblastine-dacarbazine (ABVD) were administered to pregnant baboons. At predefined time points over the first 25 h after drug administration, fetal and maternal blood samples, amniotic fluid (AF), urine, fetal and maternal tissues, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected.

Pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic agents in pregnancy: a preclinical and clinical study.

Objective: To determine the impact of physiologic changes of pregnancy on pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic agents.

Design: A preclinical and a clinical case-control trial.

Setting: Institute of Primate Research Nairobi and collaborating hospitals in Belgium, the Netherlands and Czech Republic.

Substantial variation in transplacental transfer of chemotherapeutic agents in a mouse model.

Objective: Data on the transplacental transfer of chemotherapeutic agents are lacking. We aimed to measure the maternofetal transfer of cytotoxic drugs in a mouse model.

Study Design: The transplacental transfer of doxorubicin (9 mg/kg), epirubicin (11 mg/kg), vinblastine (6 mg/kg), carboplatin (50 mg/kg), paclitaxel (10 mg/kg), and cytarabine (100 mg/kg) was tested in a C57/Bl6J mouse model.

CMV pneumonia in HIV-infected ventilated infants.

Background: The contributing role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in infants treated for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is unknown. High dose steroids used in the treatment of PJP may further immunocompromise these infants contributing to the development of CMV pneumonia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the role of CMV pneumonia in infants being ventilated for suspected PJP.

Cancer during pregnancy: an analysis of 215 patients emphasizing the obstetrical and the neonatal outcomes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the management and the obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by cancer.

Patients And Methods: In an international collaborative setting, patients with invasive cancer diagnosed during pregnancy between 1998 and 2008 were identified. Clinical data regarding the cancer diagnosis and treatment and the obstetric and neonatal outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Gynecologic cancers in pregnancy: guidelines of an international consensus meeting.

Background: Gynecologic cancer during pregnancy is a special challenge because cancer or its treatment may affect not only the pregnant women in general but directly involve the reproductive tract and fetus. Currently, there are no guidelines on how to deal with this special coincidence.

Methods: An international consensus meeting on staging and treatment of gynecological malignancies during pregnancy was organised including a systematic literature search, and interpretation followed by a physical meeting of all participants with intensive discussion.

In vitro evaluation of the ability of platelet-rich plasma to seal an iatrogenic fetal membrane defect.

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the ability of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to seal an iatrogenic fetal membrane defect.

Methods: First, we evaluated the stability of a PRP plug in an amniotic fluid environment. Further, we evaluated the sealing capability of PRP plugs in an in vitro model that mimics a fetoscopic membrane defect.

Real life evaluation of intravenous antibiotic treatment in a paediatric cystic fibrosis centre: outcome of home therapy is not inferior.

Background: Limited data exist on the efficacy and safety of home intravenous antibiotic (IV-AB) therapy for pulmonary infection specifically in children with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: We report on the outcome of IV-AB in the home vs hospital setting based on retrospective single centre patient data from 1999 to 2004 (age >5 and <18 years). Treatment location was chosen based on estimation of competence, adherence, social background and patient preference.

Enrichment of collagen plugs with platelets and amniotic fluid cells increases cell proliferation in sealed iatrogenic membrane defects in the foetal rabbit model.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cell proliferation in platelet-enriched collagen plugs with and without addition of amniotic fluid-derived heterologous foetal cells to seal an iatrogenic membrane defect in the foetal rabbit model.

Methods: Amniotic fluid cells were harvested from three donor does at 23 days of gestation (term = 32 days) and labelled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE). In 42 other does, foetal membrane defects were induced by foetoscopic needle puncture at 23 days of gestation, and closed with either a platelet-enriched collagen plug with (n = 44) or without (n = 32) amniotic fluid cells.

Nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in kangaroo mother care units: a risk in tuberculosis-endemic areas.

Background And Aim: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has become the standard of care for low-risk preterm babies born in developing countries. However, the potential risk of nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within KMC units, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic areas, has not been explored. We report an infant (sentinel case) who was admitted to our paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with extensive pulmonary tuberculosis.

Management of children with tuberculosis admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit.

Objectives: To review the incidence, clinical features, ventilatory support and outcome of children with tuberculosis (TB) admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in a region with an high incidence of TB.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed in a PICU situated in a province with a extremely high incidence of TB (> 700 new cases/ 100000/year). This is a retrospective descriptive study of TB admissions to the PICU in a 4-year period.