WITHDRAWN: Prophylactic corticosteroids for preterm birth.

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome is a serious complication of prematurity causing significant immediate and long-term mortality and morbidity.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of corticosteroids administered to pregnant women to accelerate fetal lung maturity prior to preterm delivery.

Search Strategy: The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register was searched.

Human papillomavirus prevalence and genotypes in an opportunistically screened Irish female population.

This study aims to evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and predominating genotypes in liquid-based cervical cytology samples from an Irish urban female population. In addition to use of routine cervical cytology testing, women are screened for HPV using the MY09/11 primers for the HPV L1 gene and primers for beta-globin amplification in a multiplex format. Overall, 996 women between the ages of 16 and 72 years (average age: 35) are included in the study and HPV prevalence was 19.

Cohort study of the decision to delivery interval and neonatal outcome for emergency operative vaginal delivery.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether a target decision to delivery interval (DDI) is appropriate for 'emergency' operative vaginal delivery and whether this would reduce adverse neonatal outcomes.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1021 singleton term babies who experienced operative delivery for 'fetal distress' in the second stage of labor between 1998 and 2003 in Dundee, Scotland.

Results: The mean DDI in a labor room was 14.

How useful is external cephalic version in clinical practice?

We reviewed retrospectively all women with a singleton breech presentation after 36 weeks' gestation who were referred for an external cephalic version (ECV) in the 3 years from 2001 - 2003. The number (n = 107) referred was low and the overall success rate of 24.5% was also low.

Anaesthesia for caesarean section in a woman with lung cancer: case report and review.

A 33-year-old woman pregnant with twins was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer during pregnancy. Her multidisciplinary care raised many medical and ethical issues. To help decide on the best anaesthetic technique for caesarean section, a literature search of published case reports of pregnancy associated with lung cancer was performed.

Implementation and evaluation of a new automated interactive image analysis system.

Objective: To compare automated interactive screening using the ThinPrep Imaging System with independent manual primary screening of 12,000 routine ThinPrep slides.

Study Design: With the first 6,000 cases, the Review Scopes (RS) screening results from the 22 fields of view (FOV) only were compared to independent manual primary screening. In the next 6,000 cases, any abnormality detected in the 22 FOV resulted in full manual screening on the cytotechnologist's own microscope.

Uterine rupture and labour after a previous low transverse caesarean section.

This study reviewed all cases of complete uterine rupture (UR) in pregnancy during the decade 1993-2002. In 69,412 deliveries, 5,320 women had a single prior caesarean section. Of these, 4,021 had a trial of labour and 3,129 (77.

Outcome of clinical pregnancies after ovulation induction using metformin.

The objective of this study was to review the first 50 clinical pregnancies of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) who had ovulation induced either with metformin alone, or in combination with clomifene. The study was confined to women with PCOS attending our infertility service. A register of clinical pregnancies was maintained of women who conceived after metformin therapy.

Vaginal cytology following primary hysterectomy for cervical cancer: is it useful?

Background: Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) is usually detected in patients with synchronous or antecedent cervical or vulval intraepithelial or invasive cancer. VAIN has the potential to progress to malignancy.

Aims: To determine the incidence and severity and analyse the management of vaginal dysplasia in patients undergoing primary hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Molecular profiling of cervical neoplasia.

Cervical cancer, a potentially preventable disease, remains the second most common malignancy in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus is the single most important etiological agent in cervical cancer, contributing to neoplastic progression through the action of viral oncoproteins, mainly E6 and E7, which interfere with critical cell cycle pathways, p53 and retinoblastoma. However, evidence suggests that human papillomavirus infection alone is insufficient to induce malignant changes and that other host genetic variations are important in the development of cervical cancer.

Recent innovations in colposcopy practice.

Colposcopic practice continues to evolve. As its need has expanded, so has the role of training, audit and continuing medical education. The recently published National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme clinical guidelines document covers almost every aspect of clinical practice in an evidence-based directory.

Homocysteine and folic acid: implications for pregnancy.

The role of folic acid and homocysteine in pregnancy is becoming clearer. The efforts of many countries to prevent neural tube defects through public awareness of folic acid have been disappointing, but evidence is now emerging that the food fortification programs in the United States and Canada are effective in reducing the numbers of neural tube defects, and there may be additional benefits in terms of other congenital defects such as oral-facial clefts and congenital heart disease. Homocysteine has a significant association with vascular disease in later life, is elevated in preeclampsia, and has been associated with other pregnancy complications such as early pregnancy loss.

Molecular pathology of prostate cancer.

The molecular pathology of prostate cancer is complex; not only are multiple genes involved in its pathogenesis, but additional environmental factors such as diet and inflammation are also involved. The exhaustive research into prostate cancer to date has demonstrated a complex interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors, some of which may be more important in individual prostate cancer cases. This is an exciting era, with the emergence of new investigative tools such as DNA microarray technology and the application of the field of proteomics to the study of human cancers.

p16INK4A, CDC6, and MCM5: predictive biomarkers in cervical preinvasive neoplasia and cervical cancer.

Aim: To analyse and compare expression patterns of three potential biomarkers-p16(INK4A), CDC6, and MCM5-and evaluate their use as predictive biomarkers in squamous and glandular cervical preinvasive neoplasia.

Methods: Immunocytochemical analysis of p16(INK4A), MCM5, and CDC6 expression was performed on 20 normal, 38 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN1), 33 CIN2, 46 CIN3, 10 squamous cell carcinoma, 19 cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (cGIN), and 10 adenocarcinoma samples. Staining intensity was assessed using a 0-3 scoring system.

Increased fetal RhD gene in the maternal circulation in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To determine whether the fetal RhD gene is present in the maternal circulation in early pregnancy prior to the clinical manifestation of pre-eclampsia.

Design: This is a nested case-control study.

Setting: Blood samples were obtained from patients attending for a first antenatal visit.

Neural tube defects: is a decreasing prevalence associated with a decrease in severity?

Objective: Severe neural tube defects (NTDs) tend to occur with disproportionate frequency in areas of high prevalence. The objective of our study was to determine the birth prevalence of NTDs during a 25-year period at a single institution based in an area of high prevalence for NTDs and to investigate if a decreasing prevalence resulted in a change in the type of NTDs.

Study Design: All cases of NTD affected births born at the Coombe Women's Hospital during the interval 1975-1999 were reviewed.

Quantitation of CDC6 and MCM5 mRNA in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

CDC6 and MCM5 play essential roles in eukaryotic DNA replication. Several studies have highlighted the potential of these proteins as molecular markers of dysplastic and malignant cells in histopathological diagnosis. The mode of expression of CDC6 and MCM5 mRNA and their significance in normal, dysplastic and malignant cervical cells remains to be elucidated.

Neonatal transportation: the effects of a national neonatal transportation programme.

Background: The transport of critically ill newborns by specialised transport teams has been shown to be associated with a significant improvement in their clinical condition on arrival at the receiving hospital.

Aim: To determine if the National Neonatal Transport Programme introduced in 2001 improved clinical condition of newborns at the end of transfer.

Methods: A retrospective study of all 176 patients transported by the National Neonatal Transport Programme between March 2001 and March 2002.

Antenatal detection of abnormal liver function tests - a marker for poor perinatal outcome.

The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the incidence of liver disease diagnosed in our antenatal population, (b) the diagnostic value of initial symptoms and liver function tests (LFTs), (c) the adequacy of investigation and management of the liver disorder and (d) the obstetric and neonatal outcome in this group of patients. Women with abnormal LFTs that delivered at our hospital over a 2-year period were identified from computerised hospital records and data was obtained from chart review. Forty-six out of a total of 13 181 (0.