Water consumption by rinse-off cosmetic products: The case of the shower.

Objective: This article measures and discusses the effects of different shower gels on the consumption of water used during a shower.

Methods: A sensory panel was created for quantifying water consumption associated with the use of shower gels. Fifteen French panellists were recruited (age: 59 ± 7, height: 163 cm ± 9 and weight: 68 kg ± 20) and trained to assess rinsed skin in a standardized way.

Sociodemographic risk factors associated with patient follow-up after implementation of a CardioObstetrics program.

Given the association of adverse pregnancy outcomes with risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cardiac events later in life, our institution launched a CardioObstetrics (CardioOB) program aimed to provide long-term care for patients at risk. We performed a retrospective cohort study in order to investigate which patient characteristics were associated with CardioOB follow-up following the inception of the program. We identified several sociodemographic factors and pregnancy characteristics such as increased maternal age, non-English language preferred, married marital status, referral during the antepartum period, and discharged with antihypertensive medications after delivery associated with a higher likelihood of CardioOB follow-up.

Perinatal outcome after persistence of abnormal umbilical artery Doppler indices in the growth-restricted fetus following betamethasone administration.

Background: An optimal approach for providing sufficient antenatal surveillance for fetal growth restriction (FGR) has yet to be elucidated. Moreover, there is scant literature on the fetal response to betamethasone and its effect on fetal Dopplers.

Objective: To compare persistence of umbilical artery Doppler abnormalities after corticosteroid administration and adverse perinatal outcome in growth restricted fetuses.

The utility of fetal fibronectin in asymptomatic singleton and twin pregnancies with a cervical length ≤ 10 mm.

To examine the utility of fetal fibronectin (fFN) for predicting spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) in asymptomatic women with a cervical length (CL) ≤10 mm compared to those with a CL 11-25 mm. Data was collected on all women with nonanomalous singleton and twin gestations who underwent transvaginal CL at a single institution between 2009 and 2012. Women with an incidental short cervix (CL ≤ 25 mm) between 22 and 32 weeks who had an fFN result within 7 days thereafter were included.

[The use of administrative health databases in infectious disease epidemiology and public health].

Background: The public health burden resulting from infectious diseases requires efforts in surveillance and evaluation of health care. The use of administrative health databases (AHD) and in particular the French national health insurance database (SNIIRAM) is an opportunity to improve knowledge in this field. The SNIIRAM data network (REDSIAM) workshop dedicated to infectious diseases conducted a narrative literature review of studies using French AHD.

Does the rate of cervical shortening after cerclage predict preterm birth?

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the rate of cervical shortening after cerclage can predict spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB).

Methods: Women who had cervical length (CL) assessments after cerclage placement were identified. The rate of cervical shortening and its relationship with SPTB was established using a generalized linear regression model.

Immune surveillance of the lung by migrating tissue monocytes.

Monocytes are phagocytic effector cells in the blood and precursors of resident and inflammatory tissue macrophages. The aim of the current study was to analyse and compare their contribution to innate immune surveillance of the lung in the steady state with macrophage and dendritic cells (DC). ECFP and EGFP transgenic reporters based upon Csf1r and Cx3cr1 distinguish monocytes from resident mononuclear phagocytes.

Do Doppler studies enhance surveillance of uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic twins?

Objectives: To determine whether isolated abnormal Doppler indices before 28 weeks predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of MCDA twin pregnancies receiving antenatal testing at a single center between 2007 and 2013 was conducted. Sonographic surveillance, including Doppler velocimetric studies of the umbilical artery, ductus venosus, and middle cerebral artery of each twin, was initiated by 28 weeks and repeated at least every 2 weeks.

Effect of cervical cerclage on rate of cervical shortening.

Objective: Although cerclage has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent preterm birth in a high-risk patient population, the mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood. Our objective was to evaluate whether cerclage affects the rate of cervical shortening taking into account exposure to 17-hydroxyprogesterone and vaginal progesterone.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of women who had serial cervical length measurements due to a history of spontaneous preterm delivery.

Vaginal progesterone in women with twin gestations complicated by short cervix: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine whether the use of vaginal progesterone in twin gestations with a cervical length (CL) of ≤2.5 cm is associated with a reduced risk of preterm delivery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Valve disease in pregnancy.

Maternal cardiac disease is a major cause of non-obstetric morbidity and accounts for 10-25% of maternal mortality. Valvular heart disease may result from congenital abnormalities or acquired lesions, some of which may involve more than one valve. Maternal and fetal risks in pregnant patients with valve disease vary according to the type and severity of the valve lesion along with resulting abnormalities of functional capacity, left ventricular function, and pulmonary artery pressure.

Going out on a limb for a difficult diagnosis: a case report.

Sacral tumors with fetiform features are rare and pose a diagnostic challenge to the ultrasonologist. Sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCT) and parasitic twins can have very similar sonographic features but have different implications to an affected pregnancy. While postnatal histopathology is ultimately necessary to distinguish between a SCT and a heteropagus twin, certain characteristics, such as the presence of a vertebral column and the pattern and rate of tumor growth, may be useful to guide counseling and management decisions.

The effect of intramuscular progesterone on the rate of cervical shortening.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) exposure is associated with the rate of cervical shortening.

Study Design: Women with a history of spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD) at <37 weeks' gestation who had serial cervical length measurements (2009-2012) were identified. 17-OHPC administration and outcome data were collected.

Vaginal fetal fibronectin as a predictor of spontaneous preterm delivery in triplet gestations.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of vaginal fetal fibronectin (fFN) sampling for predicting preterm birth in asymptomatic women carrying triplet gestations.

Methods: An historical cohort of patients carrying triplet gestations between 1998 and 2010 was identified from a single practice by chart review. All patients were screened with fFN testing at 2-3 week intervals from 22 weeks to 32 weeks of gestation.

Placental morphologic features and chorionic surface vasculature at term are highly correlated with 3-dimensional sonographic measurements at 11 to 14 weeks.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the potential for 3-dimensional sonographic measurement of the early placenta in predicting ultimate placental morphologic features at delivery.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we collected 3-dimensional sonographic volume sets of placentas at 11 to 14 weeks and then collected the placentas after delivery. The sonographic data were manipulated to obtain various novel measurements of early gross placental morphologic features and the umbilical cord insertion location.

Early biometric lag in the prediction of small for gestational age neonates and preeclampsia.

Objective: An early fetal growth lag may be a marker of future complications. We sought to determine the utility of early biometric variables in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the crown-rump length at 11 to 14 weeks and the head circumference, biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length, humerus length, transverse cerebellar diameter, and estimated fetal weight at 18 to 24 weeks were converted to an estimated gestational age using published regression formulas.

Novel 3-dimensional placental measurements in early pregnancy as predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: We sought to determine whether novel approaches to volumetric assessment of the early placenta can yield significant predictors of adverse outcome.

Methods: We measured placental volume (PV) at 11 to 14 weeks using virtual organ computer-aided analysis and normalized the PV to the crown-rump length (CRL) to yield the placental quotient (PQ = PV/CRL). We also calculated the mean placental diameter (MPD) from 4 measurements taken at 45 degrees intervals to serve as a surrogate for the fetal-maternal surface area.