Estimating fetal weight in gastroschisis: A 10 year audit of outcomes at the National Maternity Hospital.

Objective: To identify whether conventional methods of estimating fetal growth (Hadlock's formula), which relies heavily on abdominal circumference measurements, are accurate in fetuses with gastroschisis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed between the period January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2021 in a tertiary referral maternity hospital identifying all pregnancies with a diagnosis of gastroschisis. Projected fetal weight was obtained using the formula (EFW [Hadlock's formula] + 185 g × [X/7]) where X was the number of days to delivery.

The stroke transitional care intervention for older adults with stroke and multimorbidity: a multisite pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to test, in real-world clinical practice, the effectiveness of a Transitional Care Stroke Intervention (TCSI) compared to usual care on health outcomes, self-management, patient experience, and health and social service use costs in older adults (≥ 55 years) with stroke and multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic conditions).

Methods: This pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) included older adults discharged from hospital to community with stroke and multimorbidity using outpatient stroke rehabilitation services in two communities in Ontario, Canada. Participants were randomized 1:1 to usual care (control group) or usual care plus the 6-month TCSI (intervention group).

An Asynchronous Linear Filter Architecture for Hybrid Event-Frame Cameras.

Event cameras are ideally suited to capture High Dynamic Range (HDR) visual information without blur but provide poor imaging capability for static or slowly varying scenes. Conversely, conventional image sensors measure absolute intensity of slowly changing scenes effectively but do poorly on HDR or quickly changing scenes. In this paper, we present an asynchronous linear filter architecture, fusing event and frame camera data, for HDR video reconstruction and spatial convolution that exploits the advantages of both sensor modalities.

Prenatal findings and associated survival rates in fetal ventriculomegaly: A prospective observational study.

Objectives: Fetal ventriculomegaly is associated with varying degrees of genetic and structural abnormalities. The objective was to present the experience of fetal ventriculomegaly in a large European center in relation to: 1. grade of ventriculomegaly; 2.

The rate of decline in fetal hemoglobin following intrauterine blood transfusion in the management of red cell alloimmunization.

Objective: Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn is characterized by fetal anemia, secondary to maternal alloantibody-mediated fetal erythrocyte destruction. Despite our reliance on intrauterine blood transfusion (IUT) to maintain severely affected pregnancies, it remains difficult to predict the fetal response to an infusion of donor blood. Our objective was to determine the daily rate of decline in fetal hemoglobin following one, two, and three transfusions.

Clinical Outcomes Following a Change in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Diagnostic Criteria Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Due to COVID-19, many centres adopted a change to the diagnosis of GDM.

Methods: A case-control study of antenatal patients between 1 April and 30 June in 2019 and 2020 looking at detection rates of GDM, use of medication, obstetric, and fetal outcomes.

Results: During COVID-19, the rate of positive GDM tests approximately halved (20% (42/210) in 2020 vs.

Severe fetal ventriculomegaly: Fetal morbidity and mortality, caesarean delivery rates and obstetrical challenges in a large prospective cohort.

Introduction: Severe fetal ventriculomegaly (VM) is defined as an enlargement of the atria of the lateral cerebral ventricles (Vp) of greater than 15 mm. While it is well established that it confers significant risk of morbidity and mortality to the neonate, there is limited information pertaining to the caesarean delivery rates and the obstetric management of these complex cases. The aim of this study was twofold: firstly, to determine survival rates in fetuses with severe VM, and secondly to determine the caesarean delivery rates in continuing pregnancies.

The Natural History of Trisomy 21: Outcome Data from a Large Tertiary Referral Centre.

Objective: The aim of the study was to prospectively gather data on pregnancy outcomes of prenatally diagnosed trisomy 21 (T21) in a large tertiary referral centre.

Methods: Data were gathered prospectively in a large tertiary referral centre over 5 years from 2013 to 2017 inclusively. Baseline demographic and pregnancy outcome data were recorded on an anonymized computerized database.

Comparing three-dimensional models of placenta accreta spectrum with surgical findings.

Objective: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is associated with significant maternal morbidity mainly related to blood loss. Pre-operative planning is aided by antenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. We sought to assess whether three-dimensional (3D) models from MR images were accurate when compared with surgical and pathological findings.

A multidisciplinary fetal neurosurgical service-5 years of fetal outcomes from a national referral centre.

Background: A specialist fetal neurosurgical clinic was set up in order to improve patient care in a tertiary referral fetal medicine centre. The clinic provides a targeted clinical service for women diagnosed with fetal neurological abnormalities. The service consists of fetal MRI, fetal ultrasound and joint assessment and counselling from neurosurgery and fetal medicine teams.

Maternal morbidity in placenta accreta spectrum following introduction of a multi-disciplinary service compared to standard care: an Irish perspective.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to compare maternal outcomes in patients with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) when managed as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) compared to standard care.

Methods: Patients in the standard care group were retrospectively identified from pathology records, with patients in the MDT group prospectively collected on an electronic database. Data on maternal demographics, delivery, estimated blood loss (EBL), transfusion requirements, and morbidity were recorded.

Do you pay to go private?: a single centre comparison of induction of labour and caesarean section rates in private versus public patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare rates of induction and subsequent caesarean delivery among nulliparous women with private versus publicly funded health care at a single institution. This is a retrospective cohort study using the electronic booking and delivery records of nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies who delivered between 2010 and 2015 in an Irish Tertiary Maternity Hospital (approx. 9000 deliveries per annum).

Discrimination by parity is a prerequisite for assessing induction of labour outcome - cross-sectional study.

Background: To demonstrate that studies on induction of labour should be analyzed by parity as there is a significant difference in the labour outcome among induced nulliparous and multiparous women.

Methods: Obstetric outcome, specifically caesarean section rates, among induced term nulliparous and multiparous women without a previous caesarean section were analyzed in this cross-sectional study using the Robson 10 group classification for the year 2016.

Results: In the total number of 8851 women delivered in 2016, the caesarean section rates among nulliparous women in spontaneous and induced labour, Robson groups 1 and 2A, were 7.

The etiology of stillbirth over 30 years: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary referral unit.

Introduction: Stillbirth remains an often unpredictable and devastating pregnancy outcome, and despite thorough investigation, the number of stillbirths attributable to unexplained causes remains high. Placental examination has become increasingly important where access to perinatal autopsy is limited. We aimed to examine the causes of stillbirth in normally formed infants over 30 years and whether a declining autopsy rate has affected our ability to determine a cause for stillbirths.

Cesarean delivery rates using Robson classification system in Ireland: What can we learn?

Objective: It has been proposed that the Robson Ten-Group Classification System be used as a global standard for assessing, monitoring and comparing cesarean delivery (CD) rates within and between maternity services. Our objective was to compare the change of CD rates within the 10-Group Classification System in our institution over 10 years.

Study Design: From 2005-2014 inclusive data was collected prospectively and all women were classified using the obstetric concepts and parameters described in the Ten-Group Classification System.

How would Mary Poppins fare in labour? Practically perfect? Unlikely.

Introduction Unrealistic expectations of labour in first time mothers can present challenges to physicians and midwives. This study calculated the percentage of “practically perfect” births in nulliparous women, defined as a labour without intervention, an intact perineum and a positive neonatal outcome. Methods: This was a retrospective study of the nulliparous deliveries that occurred in the National Maternity Hospital over two years (2014/2015).

Influence of mode of delivery on outcomes in preterm breech infants presenting in labor.

Rates of vaginal breech delivery at term have fallen significantly. We sought to examine rates of preterm vaginal breech delivery and outcomes associated with delivery route. This retrospective cohort study was carried out at a large tertiary referral center serving an urban population, from 2001 to 2011.

Type 1 IFN Induction by Cytosolic Nucleic Acid Is Intact in Neonatal Mononuclear Cells, Contrasting Starkly with Neonatal Hyporesponsiveness to TLR Ligation Due to Independence from Endosome-Mediated IRF3 Activation.

Two million infants die each year from infectious diseases before they reach 12 mo; many of these diseases are vaccine preventable in older populations. Pattern recognition receptors represent the critical front-line defense against pathogens. Evidence suggests that the innate immune system does not fully develop until puberty, contributing to impaired response to infection and impaired vaccine responses in neonates, infants, and children.

Physical activity levels and self-determined motivation among future healthcare professionals: Utility of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2).

: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are physically active are regarded as more likely to act as credible physical activity (PA) role models and promote healthy lifestyles. This study explores PA levels and underlying motivations, within and between HCP students, first testing the validity and reliability of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2). : The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and BREQ-2 were administered to 296 HCP university students (physiotherapy  = 47, medicine  = 105, nursing  = 121, radiography  = 23).

Exploring full cervical dilatation caesarean sections-A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The rate of caesarean sections at full cervical dilatation with their high risk of morbidity continues to rise mirroring the overall increase in caesarean section rates internationally.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the rate of full dilatation caesarean section in a tertiary referral unit and evaluate key labour, maternal and fetal factors potentially linked to those deliveries. We also assessed maternal and fetal morbidity at full dilatation sections.

HIV-1 Promotes the Degradation of Components of the Type 1 IFN JAK/STAT Pathway and Blocks Anti-viral ISG Induction.

Anti-retroviral therapy successfully suppresses HIV-1 infection, but fails to provide a cure. During infection Type 1 IFNs normally play an essential role in viral clearance, but in vivo IFN-α only has a modest impact on HIV-1 infection, suggesting its possible targeting by HIV. Here, we report that the HIV protein, Vif, inhibits effective IFN-α signalling via degradation of essential JAK/STAT pathway components.

A prospective pilot study of Dilapan-S compared with Propess for induction of labour at 41+ weeks in nulliparous pregnancy.

Background: The incidence of labour induction has risen worldwide over the past decade, and this may contribute to the rising caesarean delivery rate. The mechanisms for induction of labour are generally divided into two categories: mechanical and pharmacological.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine if mechanical induction with Dilapan-S is an acceptable, safe method of induction of labour in post-dates uncomplicated nulliparous pregnancy.

Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy-a survey of compliance with recommendations.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy has important maternal and fetal implications, with increased risk of developing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and small for gestational age birthweight. It is recommended that every pregnant woman should take 5 μg (200 IU) of vitamin D per day during pregnancy and lactation.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of women taking vitamin D supplementation and to identify the reasons for patients not taking supplementation within women attending an antenatal clinic in Dublin.