Different indirect immunofluorescence ANA substrate performance in a diagnostic setting of patients with SLE and related disorders: retrospective review and analysis.

Objective: Given the increasing relevance of the ANA assay to classification of SLE and the uncertainty and variation surrounding different ANA assay performance, we compared the human epithelial type 2 (HEp-2) to mouse liver (ML) substrate in our local cohort and provided a review of the evidence for their use in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).

Methods: Electronic health record data (2003-2008) were used to identify patients who had concurrent HEp-2 and ML ANA, and a diagnosis of SLE or other ARDs. We determined the agreement between HEp-2 and ML ANA regarding positivity, titre and pattern, and their predictors.

Uterine synechiae and pregnancy complications.

Objective: Uterine synechiae have generally been considered benign findings in pregnancy. We used a large perinatal database to test the hypothesis that uterine synechiae are associated with pregnancy complications.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies presenting for routine ultrasonographic examinations at 17-22 weeks from 1990-2009.

A prospective randomized safety trial of celecoxib for treatment of preterm labor.

Objective: We compared the safety of celecoxib, a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, with the safety of the nonselective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, when it was administered for treatment of preterm labor.

Study Design: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 24 pregnant women in preterm labor at 24 to 34 weeks of gestation received either indomethacin or celecoxib for 48 hours. Clinical assessment, fetal sonography, and Doppler blood flow studies of the fetal ductus arteriosus were performed daily.