Fear of childbirth and emergency caesarean section in low-risk nulliparous women: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess the association between fear of childbirth (FOC) and emergency caesarean section.

Design: A prospective cohort study of low-risk nulliparous women at term.

Setting: Nine obstetric departments in Denmark, May 2004-July 2005.

Quality of randomised controlled trials in medical education reported between 2012 and 2013: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Research in medical education has increased in volume over the past decades but concerns have been raised regarding the quality of trials conducted within this field. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving educational interventions that are reported in biomedical journals have been criticised for their insufficient conceptual, theoretical framework. RCTs published in journals dedicated to medical education, on the other hand, have been questioned regarding their methodological rigour.

Medical students' perception of dyad practice.

Training in pairs (dyad practice) has been shown to improve efficiency of clinical skills training compared with single practice but little is known about students' perception of dyad practice. The aim of this study was to explore the reactions and attitudes of medical students who were instructed to work in pairs during clinical skills training. A follow-up pilot survey consisting of four open-ended questions was administered to 24 fourth-year medical students, who completed four hours of dyad practice in managing patient encounters.

Genomic profiling of thousands of candidate polymorphisms predicts risk of relapse in 778 Danish and German childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survival approaches 90%. New strategies are needed to identify the 10-15% who evade cure. We applied targeted, sequencing-based genotyping of 25 000 to 34 000 preselected potentially clinically relevant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify host genome profiles associated with relapse risk in 352 patients from the Nordic ALL92/2000 protocols and 426 patients from the German Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) ALL2000 protocol.

Simultaneous isolation of mRNA and native protein from minute samples of cells.

Precious biological samples often lack a sufficient number of cells for multiple procedures, such as extraction of mRNA while maintaining protein in a non-denatured state suitable for subsequent characterization. Here we present a new method for the simultaneous purification of mRNA and native proteins from samples containing small numbers of cells. Our approach utilizes oligodeoxythymidylate [oligo(dT)25]-coated paramagnetic beads in an optimized reaction buffer to isolate mRNA comparable in quantity and quality to mRNA isolated with existing methods, while maintaining the proteins in their native state for traditional protein assays.

Comparing minimally invasive and proactive initial management of extremely preterm infants.

Aim: In 2005, we changed our minimally invasive departmental policy for infants born before 26 weeks of gestation to a proactive approach. This included structured guidelines as well as intubation and surfactant in the delivery room, if the parents agreed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of this change of policy.

Variation in NF-κB signaling pathways and survival in invasive epithelial ovarian cancer.

Survival in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is influenced by the host immune response, yet the key genetic determinants of inflammation and immunity that affect prognosis are not known. The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factor family plays an important role in many immune and inflammatory responses, including the response to cancer. We studied common inherited variation in 210 genes in the NF-κB family in 10,084 patients with invasive EOC (5,248 high-grade serous, 1,452 endometrioid, 795 clear cell, and 661 mucinous) from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium.

Improving the luteal phase after ovarian stimulation: reviewing new options.

The human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) trigger used for final follicular maturation in connection with assisted reproduction treatment combines ovulation induction and early luteal-phase stimulation of the corpora lutea. The use of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) for final follicular maturation has, however, for the first time allowed a separation of the ovulatory signal from the early luteal-phase support. This has generated new information that may improve the currently employed luteal-phase support.

Occupational lifting during pregnancy and child's birth size in a large cohort study.

Objectives: It has been suggested that the handling of heavy loads during pregnancy is associated with impaired fetal growth. We examined the association between quantity and frequency of maternal occupational lifting and the child's size at birth, measured by weight, length, ponderal index, small-for-gestational-age (SGA), abdominal circumference, head circumference, and placental weight.

Methods: We analyzed birth size from the Danish Medical Birth Registry of 66 693 live-born children in the Danish National Birth Cohort according to the mother's self-reported information on occupational lifting from telephone interviews around gestational week 16.

Praxis and guidelines for planned homebirths in the Nordic countries - an overview.

Objective: The objective of this overview was to investigate the current situation regarding guidelines and praxis for planned homebirths and also to investigate possibilities for comparative studies on planned homebirths in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden).

Design And Setting: National documents on homebirth and midwifery and recommendations regarding management and registration of planned homebirths in the included countries were investigated.

Findings: Guidelines regarding planned home birth were found in four of the included countries.

Thromboprophylaxis only during hospitalisation in fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty, a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: International guidelines recommend thrombosis prophylaxis after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for up to 35 days. However, previous studies often have hospital stays (length of stay; LOS) of 8-12 days and not considering early mobilisation, which may reduce incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE). We investigated the incidence of any symptomatic thromboembolic events (TEEs) with only in-hospital prophylaxis if LOS ≤5 days after fast-track THA and TKA.

The circadian schedule for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia maintenance therapy does not influence event-free survival in the NOPHO ALL92 protocol.

Background: The event-free survival of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been reported to be superior when oral methotrexate (MTX) and 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) maintenance therapy (MT) is administered in the evening compared to the morning.

Procedure: In the ALL92 MT study we prospectively registered the intake of MTX/6MP. The registration was done when blood samples for erythrocyte MTX/6MP metabolite measurements were collected, and referred to the time of intake in the period since last registration.

Pregnancy planning and lifestyle prior to conception and during early pregnancy among Danish women.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE To investigate the extent to which Danish women attending antenatal care plan their pregnancies and to determine the association between pregnancy planning and the intake of folic acid, alcohol consumption and smoking habits prior to conception and before the 16th week of gestation. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 258 women.

Main Outcome Measures: intake of folic acid, alcohol consumption and smoking.

Intranasal sufentanil/ketamine analgesia in children.

Background: The management of procedural pain in children ranges from physical restraint to pharmacological interventions. Pediatric formulations that permit accurate dosing, are accepted by children and a have a rapid onset of analgesia are lacking.

Objectives: To investigate a pediatric formulation of intranasal sufentanil 0.

Subcuticular suture compared with staples for skin closure after cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare subcuticular sutures with staples for skin closure after cesarean delivery in a randomized trial in which each woman was her own control.

Methods: Women undergoing cesarean delivery (primary, n=32; repeat, n=31) were randomized to side distribution of skin closure methods with one side of the skin incision closed with staples and the other side closed with subcuticular suture. The primary outcome was the overall preferred side of the scar 6 months postoperatively.

A 10-year follow up of reproductive function in women treated for childhood cancer.

Previously, this study group found that female childhood cancer survivors could be at risk of early cessation of fertility. The aim of the present study was to evaluate reproductive function in the same group of survivors 10 years after the initial study. Of the original cohort of 100, 71 were re-examined.

Which follicles make the most anti-Mullerian hormone in humans? Evidence for an abrupt decline in AMH production at the time of follicle selection.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is exclusively produced by granulosa cells (GC) of the developing pre-antral and antral follicles, and AMH is increasingly used to assess ovarian function. It is unclear which size follicles make the most AMH (total content) and are the main contributors to circulating AMH concentrations. To determine AMH gene expression in GC (q-RT-PCR) and follicular AMH production (Elisa and RIA) in relation to follicular development, 87 follicles (3-13 mm diameter) including both GC and the corresponding follicular fluid (FF) were collected in connection with fertility preservation of human ovaries.

The migration and loss of human primordial germ stem cells from the hind gut epithelium towards the gonadal ridge.

Human primordial germ cells (PGCs) can be recognized in the yolk sac wall, from 3-4 weeks post conception (wpc), in the hind gut epithelium from week 4 and in the gonadal area from early week 5. The objective of this study was to map the migration route of PGCs and elucidate the role of the nervous system in this process. Sixteen human specimens, 5-14 wpc obtained from legal abortions were included.

Maternal and fetal recovery after severe respiratory failure due to influenza: a case report.

Background: During pregnancy women are at increased risk of severe complications to influenza infection, including death of mother or fetus, especially if chronic comorbid medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus are present.

Case Presentation: A 36 years old Caucasian pregnant woman with type 1 diabetes underwent mechanical ventilation in gestation week 27 for severe respiratory failure due to influenza and pneumonia. For three weeks during and following her most severe illness, fetal growth could not be detected and the umbilical flows and amniotic fluid volumes were affected too.

Hospital-based home care for children with cancer: feasibility and psychosocial impact on children and their families.

Background: To assess the feasibility and psychosocial impact of a hospital-based home care (HBHC) program for children with cancer.

Procedure: A HBHC program was carried out with 51 children (0-18 years) with cancer to assess its feasibility in terms of satisfaction, care preferences, safety, and cost. A controlled trial was conducted to assess children's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using the parent-reported and self-reported PedsQL generic core scale and PedsQL cancer module, and the psychosocial impact on the family by PedsQL family impact module comprising a subsample of 28 children and 43 parents in the home care group, and 47 children and 66 parents receiving standard hospital care.

Physicians compliance during maintenance therapy in children with Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Children with Down syndrome (DS) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have an inferior prognosis compared with non-DS ALL patients. We reviewed methotrexate (MTX)/mercaptopurine (6MP) maintenance therapy data for children with DS treated according to the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (NOPHO) ALL92 or the NOPHO ALL2000 protocols between 1992 and 2007. The 5-year event-free survival probability (pEFS(5 yr)) for the 66 DS patients was inferior to the 2602 non-DS patients (0.

Is tissue CA125 expression in epithelial ovarian adenocarcinoma heterogenic?

To evaluate if heterogeneity of tissue cancer antigen 125 (CA125) expression is present in epithelial serous adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, to investigate whether there is a correlation between levels of CA125 tissue expression, serum level of CA125, stage, and grade. A total of 10 patients diagnosed with serous ovarian adenocarcinomas were included.

Emergency caesarean section in low risk nulliparous women.

The rising incidence of caesarean section (CS), including emergency caesarean section (ECS) in nulliparas is of concern. Previous CS may have implications for future pregnancies and deliveries. This article describes the prevalence and indications for ECS in a cohort of low risk nulliparas and identifies maternal and fetal risk factors associated with ECS.