Labor curves based on cervical dilatation over time and their accuracy and effectiveness: A systematic scoping review.

Objectives: This systematic scoping review was conducted to 1) identify and describe labor curves that illustrate cervical dilatation over time; 2) map any evidence for, as well as outcomes used to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the curves; and 3) identify areas in research that require further investigation.

Methods: A three-step systematic literature search was conducted for publications up to May 2023. We searched the Medline, Maternity & Infant Care, Embase, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, CINAHL, Scopus, and African Index Medicus databases for studies describing labor curves, assessing their effectiveness in improving birth outcomes, or assessing their accuracy as screening or diagnostic tools.

Uterine rupture in a nulliparous woman.

Background: Previous caesarean section is considered the main risk factor for uterine rupture. However, other surgical procedures performed on the uterus can also lead to rupture in future pregnancies.

Case Presentation: The patient was a nulliparous woman, induced at gestational age of 41 + 6 with misoprostol.

Recurrent obstructive uropathy secondary to pyometrocolpos in an 8-month-old infant: a case report.

Background: Pyometrocolpos is accumulation of infected fluid in the uterus and vagina. It is rare in children, mostly seen after menarche as a result of obstructive congenital genital malformation that impairs free drainage of the uterine secretions. In a child, it may present as an acute illness that necessitates urgent and appropriate management and treatment of the underlying cause, which can be a challenge in a resource-limited setting.

Fine-Needle Aspiration for the Evaluation of Hepatic Pharmacokinetics of Vaniprevir: A Randomized Trial in Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for serial hepatic sampling may be an efficient and less invasive alternative to core needle biopsy (CNB), the current standard for liver tissue sampling. In this randomized, open-label trial in 31 participants with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection (NCT01678131/Merck protocol PN048), we evaluated the feasibility of using FNA to obtain human liver tissue samples appropriate for measuring hepatic pharmacokinetics (PK), using vaniprevir as a tool compound. The primary end point was successful retrieval of liver tissue specimens with measurable vaniprevir concentrations at two of three specified FNA time points.

Asenapine pharmacokinetics and tolerability in a pediatric population.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, safety, and tolerability of asenapine, and to develop a population PK model in pediatric patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric disorders.

Methods: Two Phase I multiple ascending-dose studies were conducted to evaluate the PK, safety, and tolerability of sublingual asenapine in pediatric patients (age 10-17 years) with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. Patients received asenapine 1-10 mg twice daily for up to 12 days.

Prognostic Value of Serial ST2 Measurements in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Background: Several clinical studies have evaluated the association between ST2 and outcome in patients with heart failure (HF). However, little is known about the predictive value of frequently measured ST2 levels in patients with acute HF.

Objectives: This study sought to describe the prognostic value of baseline and repeated ST2 measurements in patients with acute HF.

Factors affecting effective community participation in maternal and newborn health programme planning, implementation and quality of care interventions.

Background: Community participation in in health programme planning, implementation and quality improvement was recently recommended in guidelines to improve use of skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period for women and newborns. How to implement community participation effectively remains unclear. In this article we explore different factors.

Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions Targeting Health Care Workers to Improve Pregnancy Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Background: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face the highest burden of maternal and neonatal deaths. Concurrently, they have the lowest number of physicians. Innovative methods such as the exchange of health-related information using mobile devices (mHealth) may support health care workers in the provision of antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in LMICs.

Assessing the Effect of mHealth Interventions in Improving Maternal and Neonatal Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Maternal and neonatal mortality remains high in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Availability and use of mobile phones is increasing rapidly with 90% of persons in developing countries having a mobile-cellular subscription. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have been proposed as effective solutions to improve maternal and neonatal health.

Synthesis and Evaluation of a Series of Long-Acting Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Pentasaccharide Conjugates for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

The present study details the development of a family of novel D-Ala(8) glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) peptide conjugates by site specific conjugation to an antithrombin III (ATIII) binding carrier pentasaccharide through tetraethylene glycol linkers. All conjugates were found to possess potent insulin-releasing activity. Peptides with short linkers (<25 atoms) conjugated at Lys(34) and Lys(37) displayed strong GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1-R) binding affinity.

Pharmacological characterization and antidiabetic activity of a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue conjugated to an antithrombin III-binding pentasaccharide.

Aims: To examine the biological characteristics of a novel glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) conjugate, in which an antithrombin III (ATIII)-binding pentasaccharide is conjugated to d-Ala(8) GLP-1 using a tetraethylene glycol linker.

Methods: We assessed GLP-1 receptor binding, cAMP generation and insulin secretory activity of the GLP-1 conjugate in vitro. Circulating half-life, glucose homeostatic and subchronic therapeutic effectiveness were then examined in vivo.

The Absence of a Clinically Significant Effect of Food on the Single Dose Pharmacokinetics of Vorapaxar, a PAR-1 Antagonist, in Healthy Adult Subjects.

In this open-label, randomized, 2-period crossover study, 16 healthy subjects received a single oral 2.5-mg dose of vorapaxar in the fed (i.e.

Erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B in relation to atherosclerosis, serum lipids and ABO blood group.

Introduction: Erythrocytes carry apolipoprotein B on their membrane, but the determining factors of erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B (ery-apoB) are unknown. We aimed to explore the determinants of ery-apoB to gain more insight into potential mechanisms.

Methods: Subjects with and without CVD were included (N = 398).

Trans-vessel gradient of myeloperoxidase in coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) may reflect generalized inflammation. We evaluated leucocyte activation in subjects with and without CAD in different vascular compartments.

Materials And Methods: Patients were divided in two groups; subjects without CAD (controls; n = 25) and with stable CAD (n = 52) based on coronary angiography.

Leukocyte cell population data (volume conductivity scatter) in postprandial leukocyte activation.

Introduction: Changes in leukocyte cell population data have been reported in various infectious diseases, but little is known in other inflammatory conditions such as the postprandial state. We investigated whether leukocyte cell population data change during postprandial leukocyte activation.

Methods: Healthy volunteers underwent a standardized oral fat loading test (OFLT).

Half-life prolongation of therapeutic proteins by conjugation to ATIII-binding pentasaccharides: a first-in-human study of CarboCarrier® insulin.

Aim: Conjugation to antithrombin III ATIII-binding pentasaccharides has been proposed as a novel method to extend the half-life of therapeutic proteins. We aim to validate this technological concept in man by performing a first-in-human study using CarboCarrier® insulin (SCH 900948) as an example. A rising single dose phase 1 study was performed assessing safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and relative bioactivity of CarboCarrier® insulin.

Complete inhibition of rhTSH-, Graves' disease IgG-, and M22-induced cAMP production in differentiated orbital fibroblasts by a low-molecular-weight TSHR antagonist.

The TSH receptor (TSHR) on orbital fibroblasts (OF) is a proposed target of the autoimmune attack in Graves' ophthalmopathy. In the present study, we tested whether the novel low-molecular-weight (LMW) TSHR antagonist Org-274179-0 inhibits cAMP production induced by rhTSH, Graves' disease IgG (GD-IgG), or M22 (a potent human monoclonal TSHR stimulating antibody) in cultured and differentiated OF from Graves' ophthalmopathy patients. cAMP production significantly increased after incubation either with 10 mU/ml rhTSH (3-fold; P ≤ 0.

Mechanism of action of a nanomolar potent, allosteric antagonist of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor.

Background And Purpose: Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid is overactive, producing excessive amounts of thyroid hormones, caused by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs). Many GD patients also suffer from thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy or GO), as TSIs also activate TSH receptors in orbital tissue. We recently developed low molecular weight (LMW) TSH receptor antagonists as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GD and GO.

Neonatal morbidity in term neonates is related to gestational age at birth and level of care.

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess whether the incidence of neonatal morbidity of neonates born at term and admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) differs by gestational age and level of care.

Methods: This is a 5-year retrospective cohort study of singleton term births admitted to the NICU of the VU University Medical Center with a gestational age ≥37+0 weeks.

Results: In total, 497 neonates were included in the study.

Severe acute maternal morbidity in asylum seekers: a two-year nationwide cohort study in the Netherlands.

Objective: Asylum seekers often have poorer physical and mental health compared with the general population. The aim of this study was to assess incidence and risk indicators for severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) in asylum seekers.

Design: Prospective, population-based cohort study.