Evaluation of Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction (mTESE), Outcomes and Predictive Factors in Ireland: The Gold Standard for Men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia.

Background: Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) is the gold standard approach in sperm retrieval in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). The purpose of the study was to assess the outcomes for Irish men who have undergone mTESE with a single surgeon.

Methods: This is a retrospective, single cohort study.

Fit for purpose? A cross-sectional study to evaluate the acceptability and usability of HeadUp, a novel neck support collar for neurological neck weakness.

The HeadUp collar (previously known as the Sheffield Support Snood) provides support for neck weakness caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and has shown to be superior to alternative options in a small cohort of patients from one single center. Here we report the assessment of the HeadUp collar in a larger cohort of patients, exploring the use in other neurological conditions and expanding to other centers across the UK and Ireland. An interventional cross-sectional study design was implemented to investigate the usability and acceptability of the HeadUp collar.

The interaction between maternal smoking, illicit drug use and alcohol consumption associated with neonatal outcomes.

Background: The adverse effects of smoking on neonatal outcomes, such as small-for-gestational-age (SGA), has been extensively studied however, the consequences of smoking combined with alcohol and/or drug use is less clear.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed clinical and sociodemographic details of 40156 women who delivered a singleton baby between the years 2011 and 2015.

Results: Compared with women who had never smoked, smokers who did not engage in alcohol or drug use had an odds ratio (OR) of delivering a baby who was SGA of 3.

Maternal body mass index and the prevalence of spontaneous and elective preterm deliveries in an Irish obstetric population: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To estimate the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD) and elective preterm delivery (ePTD) in singleton and multiple pregnancies.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Electronic records of all deliveries from 2009 through 2013 in a tertiary university hospital were abstracted for demographic and obstetrical information.

A Medically Supervised Pregnancy Exercise Intervention in Obese Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate whether an intensive, medically supervised exercise intervention improved maternal glycemia and gestational weight gain in obese pregnant women when compared with routine prenatal care.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared a medically supervised exercise intervention with routine prenatal care. The primary outcome was a reduction in mean maternal fasting plasma glucose in the intervention group by 6.

The relationship between maternal body composition in early pregnancy and foetal mid-thigh soft-tissue thickness in the third trimester in a high-risk obstetric population.

Maternal obesity is an emerging challenge in contemporary obstetrics. To date there has been no study analysing the relationship between specific maternal body composition measurements and foetal soft-tissue measurements. The aim of this study was to determine whether measurement of maternal body composition at booking predicts foetal soft-tissue trajectories in the third trimester.

The Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus With Antenatal Oral Inositol Supplementation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study investigated if inositol in a combination of -inositol and -chiro-inositol would prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in women with a family history of diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial that examined whether inositol from the first antenatal visit prevents GDM. The trial was carried out in a single-center tertiary referral center.

Time and temperature affect glycolysis in blood samples regardless of fluoride-based preservatives: a potential underestimation of diabetes.

Background The inhibition of glycolysis prior to glucose measurement is an important consideration when interpreting glucose tolerance tests. This is particularly important in gestational diabetes mellitus where prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential. A study was planned to investigate the effect of preservatives and temperature on glycolysis.

Impact of Implementing Preanalytical Laboratory Standards on the Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but risk is reduced with identification and early treatment. Glucose measurements are affected by preanalytical sample handling, such as temperature of storage, phlebotomy-analysis interval, and use of a glycolysis inhibitor. We evaluated glucose concentrations and the incidence of GDM after strict implementation of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) preanalytical guidelines, compared with usual hospital conditions.

Trends in maternal obesity in a large university hospital 2009-2013.

Introduction: Maternal obesity has been identified as an important clinical priority in contemporary obstetrics. This study aimed to determine the incidence of maternal obesity in early pregnancy and track recent trends in body mass index (BMI) categories over 5 years 2009-2013.

Material And Methods: This prospective observational study included all women who delivered an infant weighing ≥500 g during the 5 years 2009-2013 in a large university teaching hospital in Ireland.

Maternal folic acid supplementation trends 2009-2013.

Objective: We analyzed trends in folic acid supplementation among women booking for antenatal care between 2009 and 2013.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Large university teaching hospital.

The role of preanalytical glycolysis in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus in obese women.

Objective: The objective of this prospective observational study was to determine whether the preanalytical management of maternal plasma glucose samples had a significant effect on glucose measurements in obese pregnant women.

Study Design: Based on the accurate calculation of body mass index in the first trimester, obese women were recruited at their convenience. In 1 cohort, fasting glucose level was measured in early pregnancy; in the other cohort, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 24-28 weeks' gestation.

The clinical outcomes of unplanned pregnancy in severely obese women.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of unplanned pregnancies among severely obese women with those of planned pregnancies.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included severely obese women (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 40.0 kg/m(2)) who delivered a baby weighing ≥ 500 g over 5 years 2009-2013 in a large university hospital.

Maternal bacteremia and the Irish maternity early warning system.

Objective: To assess whether introduction of the Irish maternity early warning system (IMEWS) in 2013 has improved the recording of vital signs among women with proven maternal bacteremia.

Methods: In a mixed retrospective and prospective study at a single center in Dublin, Ireland, the patient records of all cases of maternal bacteremia between January 1, 2009, and March 31, 2014, were reviewed. The IMEWS chart was applied retrospectively to records of vital signs from January 2009 to March 2013, and prospectively from April 2013 to March 2014.

The interplay between maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus.

There is a strong epidemiological association between maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Since the publication of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study on women with mild hyperglycemia in 2008, new criteria have been introduced in maternity services internationally for the diagnosis of GDM. As a result, the diagnosis of GDM may be made in one-third of obese women (n=68).

National variations in operative vaginal deliveries in Ireland.

Objective: To compare the percentage of operative vaginal delivery (OVD) among all publicly funded maternity hospitals in Ireland and to develop quality control performance tables to facilitate national benchmarking.

Methods: The analysis included deliveries of neonates weighing 500 g or more in publicly funded hospitals in Ireland in 2010. Information was obtained from the Irish National Perinatal Reporting System.

The relationship between gestational weight gain and fetal growth: time to take stock?

The aim of this article is to review the current evidence on gestational weight gain (GWG). Maternal obesity has emerged as one of the great challenges in modern obstetrics as it is becoming increasingly common and is associated with increased maternal and fetal complications. There has been an upsurge of interest in GWG with an emphasis on the relationship between excessive GWG and increased fetal growth.

How safe is preterm operative vaginal delivery and which is the instrument of choice?

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine neonatal outcomes in preterm operative vaginal delivery given the current paucity of data available to guide clinicians.

Study Design: A retrospective review of 64 cases was conducted, and neonatal outcomes were compared to spontaneous vaginal deliveries in similar gestations. The primary outcomes studied were death and occurrence of intraventricular haemorrhage.