Quantum annealing with special drivers for circuit fault diagnostics.

We present a very general construction for quantum annealing protocols to solve Combinational Circuit Fault Diagnosis problems that restricts the evolution to the space of valid diagnoses. This is accomplished by using special local drivers that induce a transition graph on the space of feasible configurations that is regular and instance independent for each given circuit topology. Analysis of small instances shows that the energy gap has a generic form, and that the minimum gap occurs in the last third of the evolution.

Developing a student competency exam for hand therapy clinical experiences: A cross-sectional survey of hand therapists.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey design.

Introduction: Students pursuing hand therapy clinical rotations are expected to demonstrate foundational knowledge prior to the experience.

Purpose Of The Study: Identify content that should be included on a potential competency exam for students pursuing hand therapy rotations from the perspectives of current hand therapists.

Notching and Pulsatility Index of the Uterine Arteries and Preeclampsia in Twin Pregnancies.

Increased uterine artery Doppler indices have been shown to be associated with preeclampsia and adverse pregnancy outcomes in singleton and twin pregnancies. At 20-22 weeks of gestation, we assessed the use of notching, the highest, lowest, and mean pulsatility index (PI), and the combination of notching and PI of the uterine arteries to screen for preeclampsia. This was done in a cohort of 380 twin pregnancies.

Risk of endometrial cancer in asymptomatic postmenopausal patients with thickened endometrium: data from the FAME-Endo study: an observational register study.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk for endometrial cancer (EC) in a large series of asymptomatic patients with thickened endometrium at ultrasound examination based on previously published data of a theoretical cohort.

Methods: In a prospective register study, a total of 1024 women with thickened endometrium in ultrasound examination undergoing histological diagnosis by dilation, hysteroscopy and curettage were evaluated. 124 patients were excluded due to current medication with tamoxifen and/or presence of HNPCC leaving 900 patients for further analysis.

Randomized controlled trial of induction at 38 weeks versus 40 weeks gestation on maternal and infant outcomes in women with insulin-controlled gestational diabetes.

Objective: To compare the impact of induction of labor at 38 weeks of gestation with the induction of labor at 40 weeks of gestation in women with insulin-treated gestational diabetes on maternal and fetal outcome.

Study Design: In this study 100 pregnant women with insulin-treated gestational diabetes were randomized to either induction of labor at 38 (group I) or 40 weeks (group II) to evaluate the rate of large for gestational age newborns, neonatal hypoglycemia, success rate of deliveries within 48 h and cesarean section rate after induction in both groups.

Results: The difference of large for gestational age newborns was not significant between the two groups (6.

Suture Closure versus Non-Closure of Subcutaneous Fat and Cosmetic Outcome after Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: To investigate the effect of subcutaneous fat suture closure versus non-closure at cesarean section (CS) on long-term cosmetic outcome.

Material And Methods: Women undergoing planned or unplanned CS were randomized to either subcutaneous fat suture closure or non-closure using a 1∶1 allocation algorithm. Participants and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation.

Postoperative gum chewing after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of postoperative gum chewing on bowel motility after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients were allocated to either postoperative gum chewing every 2 hours for 15 minutes or standard postoperative care without gum chewing. The study's primary end points were time to first regular bowel sounds and time to first passage of flatus after surgery.

Common oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms and the risk for preterm birth.

Oxytocin is crucially involved in the onset and maintenance of labor. We investigated the association between oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms and preterm birth. The presence of four common oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms (rs2254298, rs53576, rs2228485 and rs237911) was evaluated in one hundred women with preterm birth and one hundred healthy women using restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping.

Interleukin-1 beta gene polymorphisms and preterm birth.

Objective: To investigate the association between two genetic variations in the Interleukin-1 beta (IL1B) gene and preterm birth.

Study Design: In this case-control study we tested the allelic distribution of two of its common polymorphisms (IL1B +3953C>T [rs1143634], IL1B -511C>T [rs16944]) in one hundred women with preterm birth and one hundred healthy women with at least one uncomplicated full term pregnancy and no history of preterm birth.

Results: A significant association was found between the presence of the IL1B +3953C>T polymorphism and preterm birth (p=0.

Low placental weight and risk for fetal distress at birth.

Unlabelled: Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether low placental weight is associated with higher risk of emergency delivery (cesarean section and vacuum-assisted delivery).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study, including 657 normally developed term pregnancies. A strict methodology was used to provide reliable and reproducible placental weight measurement.

Association between pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and gestational diabetes requiring insulin treatment at 11-14 weeks of gestation.

Objective: To evaluate whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requiring insulin treatment (White's classification A2) is associated with an alteration of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) serum levels at first-trimester screening between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation.

Methods: We collected data (2007-2010) of all women who developed GDM requiring insulin treatment and completed first-trimester combined screening program including the determination of serum PAPP-A and free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG). A total of 288 women were included in this study.

Transcription factor 7-like 2 gene polymorphisms and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene polymorphisms were shown to be associated with insulin resistance. We examined two single nucleotide exchanges in this gene in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and in women with normal glucose tolerance.

Methods: A total of 1800 unselected women were prospectively screened for GDM by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.

Prognostic significance of gamma-glutamyltransferase in patients with endometrial cancer: a multi-centre trial.

Background: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GTT), a known marker for apoptotic balance, seems to promote tumour progression, invasion and drug resistance. Recently, high GGT serum levels were shown to be associated with impaired prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of pre-therapeutic serum GGT levels as prognostic parameter in patients with endometrial cancer.

Accuracy of Fetal Weight Estimation in Women with Diet Controlled Gestational Diabetes.

To evaluate whether ultrasound accuracy of estimated fetal weight (EFW) differs in women with diet controlled gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to nondiabetic pregnant women. We included 363 patients, 121 patients with diet controlled GDM and 242 patients with a normal oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT). Each case of diet controlled GDM was matched with 2 unaffected controls.

[Tonsillotomy and adenotonsillectomy in childhood. Study on postoperative pain therapy].

Background: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the combination of i.v. ketoprofen and i.

Influence of gestational diabetes mellitus on weight discrepancy in twin pregnancies.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of gestational diabetes mellitus on weight discrepancy in twin pregnancies.

Methods: 200 twin pregnancies were included in the study. 157 nondiabetic pregnant women with twin gestations and 43 twin pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with viable fetuses born after 24 weeks of gestation were enrolled.

Repeat surgery in patients with cervical cancer stage FIGO IA1: a series of 156 cases and a review of the literature.

Background: Many physicians advocate repeat surgery after cervical conization with a diagnosis of cervical cancer stage FIGO IA1. In a multicenter trial, whether repeat surgery is a necessary therapeutic procedure in the treatment of cervical cancer stage FIGO IA1 was evaluated and a literature review performed.

Patients And Methods: From 1997 to 2006, 156 patients with squamous cell cervical cancer, stage FIGO IA1, were primarily treated with conization in three different institutions; 102 of these patients underwent repeat surgery, comprising the study group for the present trial.

A polymorphism of the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) and preterm birth.

Our aim was to investigate whether a genetic variation in the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 gene might be associated with preterm birth. In this case-control study we evaluated the G/A polymorphism (rs2267717) in intron 2 of the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 gene in one hundred women with preterm birth and one hundred healthy women with at least one uncomplicated full term pregnancy and no history of preterm birth. No significant correlation was found between the presence of the investigated polymorphism and preterm birth (p=0.

The prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with endometrial cancer: a multi-centre trial.

Background: To analyse the correlation between pre-treatment plasma fibrinogen levels and clinical-pathological parameters in patients with endometrial cancer and to assess the value of plasma fibrinogen as a prognostic parameter.

Methods: Within a retrospective multi-centre study, the records of 436 patients with endometrial cancer were reviewed and pre-treatment plasma fibrinogen levels were correlated with clinical-pathological parameters and patients' survival.

Results: The mean (s.

Retinol-binding protein 4 in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: It is still unknown if serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) relates to metabolic control and the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We studied RBP4 levels in patients with insulin-treated GDM and healthy pregnant women twice during pregnancy.

Methods: Sixty-three women with GDM and 38 healthy pregnant women were included.

The presence of postmenopausal bleeding as prognostic parameter in patients with endometrial cancer: a retrospective multi-center study.

Background: To date, there is no consensus on the utility of screening procedures for the early detection of endometrial cancer. The value of transvaginal ultrasound for screening of asymptomatic endometrial cancer has been discussed controversially. This study was conducted to evaluate whether asymptomatic patients with endometrial cancer have a better prognosis than symptomatic patients with endometrial cancer diagnosed after postmenopausal bleeding.

Plasma fibrinogen levels and prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer: a multicenter study.

Introduction: To evaluate pretherapeutic plasma fibrinogen levels as a prognostic parameter in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Materials and Methods. In the present multicenter study, pretherapeutic plasma fibrinogen levels were evaluated in 422 patients with EOC.

Does the mode of delivery influence sexual function after childbirth?

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the mode of delivery on female sexuality 12-18 months after childbirth.

Methods: Fifty-five primiparae who delivered vaginally without complication and 44 who underwent elective cesarean section after 37 weeks of gestation were included. Sexual function was assessed by a validated self-reported questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), 12 months after birth and compared between groups.

Influence of the time interval between hysteroscopy, dilation and curettage, and hysterectomy on survival in patients with endometrial cancer.

Objective: To evaluate whether a prolonged time interval between dilation and curettage (D&C) and hysterectomy has an effect on survival in patients with surgically treated endometrial cancer.

Methods: In this multicenter study, time between D&C and hysterectomy was correlated to clinical data in 344 surgically staged patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer.

Results: The median (interquartile range) interval between D&C and hysterectomy in patients with endometrial cancer was 23 (13-34) days.

Serum C-reactive protein as independent prognostic variable in patients with ovarian cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate serum C-reactive protein (CRP) as prognostic variable in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Experimental Design: In a multicenter study, preoperative serum CRP was evaluated in 623 patients with EOC. Results were correlated with clinical data.