Unequally Unequal? Contextual-level status inequality and social cohesion moderating the association between individual-level socioeconomic position and systemic chronic inflammation.

Background: Status inequality is hypothesised to increase socioeconomic inequalities in health by creating an environment in which social cohesion erodes and social comparisons intensify. Such an environment may cause systemic chronic inflammation. Although these are often-used explanations in social epidemiology, empirical tests remain rare.

Clinical Measures of Adolescent Softball Players With and Without Upper-Extremity Pain: A Preliminary Study.

Context: Upper-extremity (UE) pain is a concern among softball adolescent athletes. However, research on preseason screening of demographic characteristics and clinical measures among those with and without UE pain among adolescent softball athletes is underreported. This study sought to present functional outcomes and clinical measures of shoulder and hip complex flexibility, range of motion (ROM), and strength in adolescent softball athletes with and without UE pain.

Naming the Dead: What information do Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Anatomy Faculty Share With Students?

In this novel study, the researchers quantify cadaver information provided to Physical Therapy (PT) and Physician Assistant (PA) anatomy faculty and ask what portion of that information is then shared with students. Descriptive statistics were used to the describe demographics of the study respondents and to report survey responses. The majority (60% or greater) of faculty who teach anatomy to PT and PA students have clinical degrees matching the student groups they teach.

Association of longitudinal alcohol consumption trajectories with coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of six cohort studies using individual participant data.

Background: Studies have shown that alcohol intake trajectories differ in their associations with biomarkers of cardiovascular functioning, but it remains unclear if they also differ in their relationship to actual coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence. Using multiple longitudinal cohort studies, we evaluated the association between long-term alcohol consumption trajectories and CHD.

Methods: Data were drawn from six cohorts (five British and one French).

Giant Cell Tumor of the Distal Femur.

A 24-year-old woman presented to a physical therapy clinic reporting a 4-month history of constant left knee pain of insidious onset. In the setting of nonlocalized, nontraumatic chronic knee pain, the physical therapist ordered radiographs, which revealed an osteolytic lesion along the distal anterolateral femur, suggesting a giant cell tumor. The radiologist then recommended computed tomography for better appreciation of the lesion and magnetic resonance imaging to investigate any soft tissue abnormality.

Comparison of two angles of approach for trigger point dry needling of the lumbar multifidus in human donors (cadavers).

Study Design: Descriptive comparison study.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of two needle angle approaches for dry needling of the lumbar multifidus.

Background: Low back pain is a leading cause of disability around the world; the lumbar multifidus plays a vital role in low back health.

Twin Birth Study: 2-year neurodevelopmental follow-up of the randomized trial of planned cesarean or planned vaginal delivery for twin pregnancy.

Background: The Twin Birth Study randomized women with uncomplicated pregnancies, between 32(0/7)-38(6/7) weeks' gestation where the first twin was in cephalic presentation, to a policy of either a planned cesarean or planned vaginal delivery. The primary analysis showed that planned cesarean delivery did not increase or decrease the risk of fetal/neonatal death or serious neonatal morbidity as compared with planned vaginal delivery.

Objective: This study presents the secondary outcome of death or neurodevelopmental delay at 2 years of age.

Planned caesarean section for term breech delivery.

Background: Poor outcomes after breech birth might be the result of underlying conditions causing breech presentation or due to factors associated with the delivery.

Objectives: To assess the effects of planned caesarean section for singleton breech presentation at term on measures of pregnancy outcome.

Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 March 2015).

A randomized trial of planned cesarean or vaginal delivery for twin pregnancy.

Background: Twin birth is associated with a higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes than singleton birth. It is unclear whether planned cesarean section results in a lower risk of adverse outcomes than planned vaginal delivery in twin pregnancy.

Methods: We randomly assigned women between 32 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days of gestation with twin pregnancy and with the first twin in the cephalic presentation to planned cesarean section or planned vaginal delivery with cesarean only if indicated.

Common mental disorders and mortality in the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study: comparing the General Health Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Background: While various measures of common mental disorders (CMD) have been found to be associated with mortality, a comparison of how different measures predict mortality may improve our understanding of the association. This paper compares how the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) predict all cause and cause-specific mortality.

Methods: Data on 2547 men and women from two cohorts, aged approximately 39 and 55 years, from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study who were followed up for mortality over an average of 18.

Repeat prenatal corticosteroid prior to preterm birth: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis for the PRECISE study group (prenatal repeat corticosteroid international IPD study group: assessing the effects using the best level of evidence) - study protocol.

Background: The aim of this individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis is to assess whether the effects of repeat prenatal corticosteroid treatment given to women at risk of preterm birth to benefit their babies are modified in a clinically meaningful way by factors related to the women or the trial protocol.

Methods/design: The Prenatal Repeat Corticosteroid International IPD Study Group: assessing the effects using the best level of Evidence (PRECISE) Group will conduct an IPD meta-analysis. The PRECISE International Collaborative Group was formed in 2010 and data collection commenced in 2011.

Effect of antenatal corticosteroids on fetal growth and gestational age at birth.

Objective: To estimate the effect of multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal size, controlling for gestational age at birth and other confounders, and to determine whether there was a dose-response relationship between number of courses of antenatal corticosteroids and neonatal size.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth Study, a double-blind randomized controlled trial of single compared with multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids in women at risk for preterm birth and in which fetuses administered multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids weighed less, were shorter, and had smaller head circumferences at birth. All women (n=1,858) and children (n=2,304) enrolled in the Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth Study were included in the current analysis.

Maternal side-effects after multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids (MACS): the three-month follow-up of women in the randomized controlled trial of MACS for preterm birth study.

Objective: A single course of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) is associated with a reduction in respiratory distress syndrome and neonatal death. Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids Study (MACS), a study involving 1858 women, was a multicentre randomized placebo-controlled trial of multiple courses of ACS, given every 14 days until 33+6 weeks or birth, whichever came first. The primary outcome of the study, a composite of neonatal mortality and morbidity, was similar for the multiple ACS and placebo groups (12.

Multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm birth study: 2-year outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of repeated courses of prenatal corticosteroid therapy versus placebo on death or neurologic impairment among the children enrolled in the Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth Study, at 18 to 24 months of age.

Methods: A total of 2305 infants were eligible for follow-up evaluation; 2104 infants (1069 in the prenatal corticosteroid therapy group and 1035 in the placebo group) were monitored. The primary outcome was death or neurologic impairment, defined as either cerebral palsy or cognitive delay, at 18 to 24 months of age.

Multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm birth (MACS): a randomised controlled trial.

Background: One course of antenatal corticosteroids reduces the risk of respiratory distress syndrome and neonatal death. Weekly doses given to women who remain undelivered after a single course may have benefits (less respiratory morbidity) or cause harm (reduced growth in utero). We aimed to find out whether multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids would reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality without adversely affecting fetal growth.

Factors associated with maternal morbidity in the Term Breech Trial.

Objective: In the Term Breech Trial, the risk of maternal morbidity in women who delivered after planning for a caesarean section (CS) was not significantly different from those who delivered after planning for a vaginal birth. We undertook secondary analyses to determine factors associated with maternal morbidity among 2078 women.

Methods: By using multiple logistic regression analyses, we determined the effect of prelabour CS, CS during early labour, CS during active labour, vaginal birth, and other factors on maternal morbidity.

Preterm labour and birth: a survey of clinical practice regarding use of tocolytics, antenatal corticosteroids, and progesterone.

Objectives: We wished to determine prescribing practices of obstetricians in Canada regarding tocolytics, antenatal corticosteroids, and progesterone for women at increased risk of preterm labour and birth, and to determine whether these practices changed between 1997-98 and 2004.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys of Canadian obstetricians were conducted. The initial survey was in 1997-98 (N = 1313); the follow-up survey was in 2004 (N = 1508).

Perspectives on the management of the short cervix identified by transvaginal ultrasound during pregnancy: an update for Canadian obstetrical caregivers.

A shortened cervix is often considered to be equivalent to cervical insufficiency, and a cerclage may be offered as an intervention to prolong pregnancy; however, we may not be differentiating between true cervical insufficiency and intrauterine causes of cervical shortening. A recent meta-analysis found no significant reduction in preterm birth < 35 weeks' gestation in women with cerclage compared with no cerclage in the total population of women studied. However, there was a potentially significant reduction in preterm birth < 35 weeks among women with a singleton pregnancy (relative risk [RR] 0.

Progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth among women at increased risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether progestational agents, initiated in the second trimester of pregnancy, reduce the risk of delivery less than 37 weeks, among women at increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth.

Study Design: Medline, pre-Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Randomized controlled trials with less than 20% lost to follow-up were included.

The costs of planned cesarean versus planned vaginal birth in the Term Breech Trial.

Background: The Term Breech Trial compared the safety of planned cesarean and planned vaginal birth for breech presentations at term. The combined outcome of perinatal or neonatal death and serious neonatal morbidity was found to be significantly lower among babies delivered by planned cesarean section. In this study we conducted a cost analysis of the 2 approaches to breech presentations at delivery.