Iron status, anemia, and birth outcomes among pregnant women in urban Bloemfontein, South Africa: the NuEMI study.

Background: Despite routine iron supplementation for pregnant women in South Africa, anaemia and iron deficiency (ID) in pregnancy remain a public health concern.

Objective: To determine the associations between iron status and birth outcomes of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 427 pregnant women, blood was taken to analyze biomarkers of anaemia (haemoglobin), iron status (ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor) and inflammation (C-reactive protein and α-1-acid glycoprotein).

Diet quality indexes for use during pregnancy: a scoping review.

Aims: High diet quality is related to better health outcomes in general. During pregnancy, a high-quality diet is of paramount importance to promote optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes. This is a scoping review of research available on diet quality indexes (DQIs) for use during pregnancy that summarizes the DQIs in terms of development, country of origin, population used, components, scoring and weighting of components, and evaluation.

Associations between socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women and birth outcome: The Nutritional status of Expectant Mothers and their newborn Infants study.

Background: Low socio-economic status is associated with poor birth outcomes, however, few studies on this topic have been conducted in South Africa. We determined associations between socio-demographic variables of pregnant women and birth outcome in their offspring.

Methods: This study was nested in a prospective cohort study conducted at an antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Approaches and geographical locations of respectful maternity care research: A scoping review.

Background: Peripartum mistreatment of women contributes to maternal mortality across the globe and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. While traditionally recognized in low/low-middle-income countries, the extent of research on respectful maternity care and the types of mistreatment occurring in high-income countries is not well understood. We conducted a scoping review to 1) map existing respectful maternity care research by location, country income level, and approach, 2) determine if high-income countries have been studied equally when compared to low/low-middle-income countries, and 3) analyze the types of disrespectful care found in high-income countries.

Accuracy of the Pisiform Boost Test for the Diagnosis of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tears in the Wrist - Pisiform Boost Test.

Background: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a novel examination technique, the 'Pisiform Boost Test,' in diagnosing a triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear.

Methods: Wrist arthroscopies performed between 2011-2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' clinical records were evaluated to determine the result of the Pisiform Boost Test during clinical examination and TFCC tear within the body of the TFCC as seen at wrist arthroscopy.

Reported health, social support, stress and associations with choline intake in pregnant women in central South Africa: the NuEMI study 2018-2019.

Background: The health and well-being of pregnant women can influence pregnancy outcomes and are closely associated with social support and experiences of stress. Poor nutrition predisposes to poor health with choline intake affecting pregnancy outcome. This study determined reported health, social support, and stress and how these factors are associated with choline intake in pregnancy.

Effects of Nutritional and Social Factors on Favorable Fetal Growth Conditions Using Structural Equation Modeling.

Poor birth outcomes such as low birth weight, low birth length and short gestational age, are public health concern issues in South Africa (SA). This study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore how nutritional and social factors contribute to favorable fetal growth conditions (FFGC) in pregnant women living with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in the Free State Province of SA. Sociodemographic characteristics, stress, health and nutrition-related information, and birth outcomes data were collected and analyzed from a subsample of 305 women enrolled in a cohort study from 2018−2020.

Sociodemographic Indicators, Household Food Security and Associations with Choline Intake in Pregnant Women: The NuEMI Study.

Higher sociodemographic status is associated with adequate nutrient intake and food security. Adequate choline intake is vital during pregnancy to support fetal development. In this cross-sectional study, information was obtained from 682 pregnant women attending an ante-natal clinic in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Enrollment of Individuals From Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups in Gynecologic Cancer Precision Oncology Trials.

Objective: To characterize whether enrollment patterns in precision oncology clinical trials for gynecologic cancers reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of patients with gynecologic cancers in the United States.

Methods: ClinicalTrials.gov was queried to perform this cross-sectional review.

Introducing ethanol ablation as a treatment for thyroid cysts in the emergency setting.

Background: Ethanol ablation for the treatment of thyroid cysts has been well documented in the literature as a safe, effective treatment option in the elective setting. This study demonstrates the use of ethanol ablation in the emergency setting.

Methods: Three patients presenting with airway-threatening compressive symptoms secondary to a thyroid cyst were treated with ethanol ablation within 24 hours of presentation to hospital.

Development of HEK-293 Cell Lines Constitutively Expressing Flaviviral Antigens for Use in Diagnostics.

Flaviviruses are important human pathogens worldwide. Diagnostic testing for these viruses is difficult because many of the pathogens require specialized biocontainment. To address this issue, we generated 39 virus-like particle (VLP)- and nonstructural protein 1 (NS1)-secreting stable cell lines in HEK-293 cells of 13 different flaviviruses, including dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, St.

Predictive Value of Elevated Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) Levels for Assessment of Cardio-Renal Interactions among ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Background: Elevated serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels reflect both inflammatory reactions and renal tubular injury. Recently, associations with endothelial dysfunction and plaque instability were also proposed. We investigated the prognostic utility of elevated NGAL levels for renal and clinical outcomes among ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary coronary intervention (PCI).

Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reaction to Covid-19 vaccine.

Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity Skin Reaction following the Moderna mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine. This case is an unusually prolonged presentation of skin rash following vaccination for the novel COVID-19 virus. This case is clinically significant as it highlights an uncommon but not contraindicated potential side effect and details appropriate medical management.

Choline intake and associations with egg and dairy consumption among pregnant women attending a high-risk antenatal clinic in South Africa: the NuEMI study.

Background: The importance of adequate choline intake during pregnancy has been well documented, but low intake is common. Total choline intake, main food sources of choline, as well as associations between choline intake and egg and dairy consumption were determined in a sample of pregnant women attending the high-risk antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used.

Return of Results Policies for Genomic Research: Current Practices and the Hearts in Rhythm Organization (HiRO) Approach.

Research teams developing biobanks and/or genomic databases must develop policies for the disclosure and reporting of potentially actionable genomic results to research participants. Currently, a broad range of approaches to the return of results exist, with some studies opting for nondisclosure of research results and others following clinical guidelines for the return of potentially actionable findings from sequencing. In this review, we describe current practices and highlight decisions a research team must make when designing a return of results policy, from informed consent to disclosure practices and clinical validation options.

Potential for Machine Learning in Burn Care.

Burn-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity across the globe. Accurate assessment and treatment have been demonstrated to reduce the morbidity and mortality. This essay explores the forms of artificial intelligence to be implemented the field of burns management to optimize the care we deliver in the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom.

Oxidized sulfur-rich arc magmas formed porphyry Cu deposits by 1.88 Ga.

Most known porphyry Cu deposits formed in the Phanerozoic and are exclusively associated with moderately oxidized, sulfur-rich, hydrous arc-related magmas derived from partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. Yet, whether similar metallogenic processes also operated in the Precambrian remains obscure. Here we address the issue by investigating the origin, fO, and S contents of calc-alkaline plutonic rocks associated with the Haib porphyry Cu deposit in the Paleoproterozoic Richtersveld Magmatic Arc (southern Namibia), an interpreted mature island-arc setting.

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Physician Moms.

Objective: This study evaluates the personal and professional experiences of physician mothers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on the lives of physician mothers.

Methods: Using social media to reach a broad range of physicians, a convenience sample of physician mothers completed an on-line survey posted between April 27 and May 11. Members were encouraged to repost on social media and share with personal contacts resulting in a passive snowball sampling effect.

Missense variants in the spectrin repeat domain of DSP are associated with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: A family report and systematic review.

Rare loss of function variants in DSP, which codes for the desmosomal protein desmoplakin, have been implicated in dilated and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies. We present a family with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy associated with a novel missense variant in DSP (NM_004415.4): c.

Entomological risk factors for potential transmission of Rift Valley fever virus around concentrations of livestock in Colorado.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) poses a major threat of introduction to several continents, including North America. Such an introduction could cause significant losses to the livestock industry, in addition to substantial human morbidity and mortality. Because of the opportunistic blood host selection of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, we hypothesized that this species could be an important bridge vector of RVFV near feedlots in the event of an introduction.

Application of the Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) Platform for Detection and Quantification of Vertebrate Host DNA in Engorged Mosquitoes.

Hematophagous arthropod bloodmeal identification has remained a challenge in the field of vector biology, but these studies are important to understand blood feeding patterns of arthropods, spatial, and temporal patterns in arbovirus transmission cycles, and risk of human and veterinary disease. We investigated the use of an existing vertebrate primer set for use on the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) platform, to explore the use of this technology in the identification and quantification of vertebrate DNA in mosquito blood meals. Host DNA was detectable 48-h post-engorgement in some mosquitoes by ddPCR, compared with 24-h post-engorgement using traditional PCR.