Increased endothelial inflammation, sTie-2 and arginase activity in umbilical cords obtained from gestational diabetic mothers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine subclinical inflammation in umbilical vein derived endothelial cells (HUVECs) obtained from Asian Indian subjects with gestational diabetes (GDM) and to determine levels of angiogenic factors and arginase activity in their cord blood.

Methods: This case-control study included 38 control and 30 GDM subjects. Subjects were confirmed as GDM based on 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) conducted in the second trimester of pregnancy.

An unusual cause of urinary retention in early pregnancy.

Urinary retention is a rare complication of early pregnancy with few serious sequelae. A Medline search found no association between urinary symptoms and cervical pregnancy. This case describes urinary retention resulting from a cervical pregnancy and describes a proposed mechanism to explain the presenting symptoms.

Assessments in evidence-based medicine workshops: loose connection between perception of knowledge and its objective assessment.

The outcome of continuing education programs is often based on self-assessment. We evaluated the relationship of self-assessment of knowledge based on rating scales with scores obtained on objective validated tests in evidence-based medicine workshops. In the West Midlands region (1998), 55 participants attended three workshops in critical appraisal of the medical literature.