Predictors of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Following Traumatic Injuries

Objective After traumatic injury in pregnant women,providing timely and appropriate management for high-risk patients is crucial for both pregnant women and fetuses.This study aimed to identify risk factors that predict adverse pregnancy outcomes after traumatic injury.Methods A retrospective cohort study including 317 pregnant patients who experienced trauma was conducted.The collected data included general demographics,injury mechanisms and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Patients were divided into two subgroups based on the absence or presence of trauma-related adverse pregnancy outcomes.Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to estimate the associations between clinical variables and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Results A total of 41(12.93%)patients experienced adverse pregnancy outcomes within the first 24 h post-trauma.This study revealed that age>35 years(OR=14.995,95%CI:5.024–44.755,P<0.001),third trimester trauma(OR=3.878,95%CI:1.343–11.204,P=0.012),abdominal pain(OR=3.032,95%CI:1.221–7.527,P=0.017),vaginal bleeding(OR=3.226,95%CI:1.093–9.523,P=0.034),positive scan in focused assessment with sonography for trauma(FAST)positive(OR=8.496,95%CI:2.825–25.555,P<0.001),9≤injury severity score(ISS)<16(OR=3.039,95%CI:1.046–8.835,P=0.041)and ISS≥16(OR=5.553,95%CI:1.387–22.225,P=0.015)increased the probability of posttraumatic adverse pregnancy outcomes.Maternal age,gestational age at delivery,vaginal bleeding and positive FAST results were risk factors for abnormal delivery.Conclusion Advanced maternal age,third trimester,and positive FAST results should alert multidisciplinary trauma teams to closely monitor patients to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic repair of type II, III and IV hiatal hernias: A retrospective study comparing adverse outcomes

Objective:Robotic-assisted surgery(RAS)is continuing to expand in use in surgical specialties,including foregut surgery.The available data on its use in large hiatal hernia(HH)repair are limited and conflicting.This study sought to determine whether there are significant differences in adverse outcomes following HH repair performed with a robotic approach vs.a laparoscopic approach.This study was limited to outcomes in patients with type II,III,and IV HHs,as these hernias are typically more challenging to repair.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed from data obtained from TriNetX,a large deidentified clinical database,over a 10-year period.Adult patients who underwent type II,III,or IV HH repair were included in the study.HH with robotic repair was compared to laparoscopic repair.Cohorts were propensity score matched for demographic information and comorbidities.Risk ratios,risk differences(RDs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs),and t test for each examined adverse outcome were used to estimate the effects of robotic repair vs.laparoscopic repair.Results:In total,20,016 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified;1,515 patients utilized RAS,and 18,501 used laparoscopy.Prior to matching,there were significant differences in age,sex,comorbidity,and BMI between the two cohorts.After 1:1 propensity score matching,analyses of 1,514 well-matched patient pairs revealed no significant differences in demographics or comorbidities.Patients who underwent robotic repair were more likely to experience major complications,including venous thromboembolism(RD:0.007,95%CI:0.003,0.011;p?0.002),critical care(RD:0.023,95%CI:0.007,0.039;p?0.004),urinary/renal complications(RD:0.027,95%CI:0.014,0.041;p<0.001),and respiratory complications(RD:0.046,95%CI:0.028,0.064;p<0.001).RAS was associated with a significantly shorter length of stay(32.4±27.5 h vs.35.7±50.1 h,p?0.031),although this finding indicated a reduction in the length of stay of less than 4 hours.No statistically significant differences in risk of esophageal perforation,infection,postprocedural shock,bleeding,mortality,additional emergency room visits,cardiac complications,or wound disruption were found.Conclusions:Patients who undergo robotic-assisted large HH repair are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism,need critical care,urinary or renal complications and respiratory complications.Due to variations in RAS technique,experience,and surgical volumes,further study of this surgical approach and complication rates is warranted.

Preoperative malnutrition in elderly gastric cancer patients and adverse postoperative outcomes of radical gastrectomy

Malnutrition is not only a prevalent condition among the elderly but also a common comorbidity in elderly people with gastric cancer(GC).Malnutrition is closely linked to high rates of postoperative complications and poor wound healing in elderly GC patients,which may lead to a higher incidence and mor-tality rate of GC.Malnutrition decreases the physical function of elderly GC patients after surgery,severely affecting their postoperative life quality and hindering subsequent treatments.This retrospective study was conducted by Zhao et al,focusing on the clinical baseline data,postoperative complications,and hospitalization times of elderly GC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy.Additionally,the underlying causes of poor outcomes for patients were discussed.This study may provide a solid basis for the clinical treatment of elderly GC patients in the future.Therefore,malnutrition can serve as a negative prognostic factor for curative surgery in GC patients.Addressing malnutrition and its adverse effects can benefit elderly GC patients from surgical treatment.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Following Cryotherapy, Thermal Ablation and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Treatment: A Pilot Study among Zambian Women

Background: Cervical Intraepithelial neoplasia treatments have become essential interventions to manage cervical lesions. Majority of the recipients of these treatments are women within the reproductive age group, who according to literature may be at risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This pilot study is part of a study investigating adverse pregnancy outcomes among women who received Cryotherapy, Thermal ablation and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure compared to the untreated women in Zambia. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study analyzed records of 886 (n = 443 treated and n = 443 untreated) women aged 15 - 49 years. The women were either screened with Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid or treated for Cervical Intraepithelial neoplasia at the Adult Infectious Disease Centre between January 2010 and December 2020. Women meeting the criteria were identified using the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid screening records and telephone interviews to obtain the adverse pregnancy outcome experienced. Data were analysed using STATA version 16 to determine the prevalence and obtain frequency distribution of outcomes of interest. Univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression estimated odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes across the three treatments. Results: The respondents were aged 15 to 49 years. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were observed to be more prevalent in the treatment group (18.5%) compared to the untreated group (5.4%). Normal pregnancy outcomes were lower in the treated (46.3%;n = 443) than the untreated (53.7%;n = 443). The treated group accounted for the majority of abortions (85.2%), prolonged labour (85.7%) and low birth weight (80%), whereas, the untreated accounted for the majority of still births (72.7%). Women treated with cryotherapy (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.32 - 4.49, p = 0.004), thermal ablation (aOR = 6.37, 95% CI = 0.99 - 41.2, p = 0.052) and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (aOR = 9.67, 95% CI = 2.17 - 43.1, p = 0.003) had two-, six- and ten-times higher odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes respectively, relative to women who required no treatment. Conclusion: Adverse pregnancy outcomes are prevalent among women who have received treatment in Zambia. The findings indicate that treating Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia has been linked to higher chances of experiencing abortion, delivering low birth weight babies and enduring prolonged labor that may result in a caesarean section delivery. Cervical neoplasia treatments, particularly Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure, are associated with significantly increased odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is essential to include information about prior Cervical Intraepithelial neoplasia treatment outcomes in obstetric care.

A Study on the Correlation of Body Mass Management During Pregnancy with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Labor Progression

Objective:To investigate the effects of body mass management during pregnancy on adverse pregnancy outcomes,duration of labor,and neonatal birth weight.Methods:472 pregnant women who visited Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January to December 2023 were selected,and the pregnant women were divided into 236 each in the observation group and the control group.Body mass of pregnant women was measured and BMI was calculated in early and late pregnancy respectively,and the pregnant women in the control group were guided by routine management,while the observation group was guided by body mass management during pregnancy.The growth of maternal body mass,mode of delivery,postpartum hemorrhage,neonatal score,neonatal blood glucose at birth,and umbilical artery blood,as well as the comparison of the duration of labor,were observed.Results:The observation group was significantly better than the control group in terms of mode of delivery,postpartum hemorrhage,and body mass growth,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05),and there was no statistical significance in terms of neonatal scores,neonatal blood glucose at birth,and umbilical artery blood(P>0.05);the time of the first stage of labor and the time of the second stage of labor of the mothers in the observation group was significantly better than that of the control group,with statistical differences(P<0.05),and the time of the third stage of labor of the mothers in the observation group was statistically better than that of the control group.There was no statistically significant difference between the time of the third stage of labor in the observation group and the control group(P>0.05),and the time of the total stage of labor in the observation group was statistically better than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Body mass management during pregnancy can effectively improve maternal control of weight gain,reduce labor time,and decrease the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Analysis of Cardiac Functional Status and Factors Influencing Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Combined Heart Disease

Objective:To investigate the cardiac function of pregnant women with complicated heart disease during pregnancy and the factors influencing the adverse pregnancy outcome.Methods:A total of 162 cases of pregnant women with complicated heart disease admitted to the Beijing Anzhen Hospital from October 2021 to December 2023 were selected to compare the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with complicated heart disease at different levels of cardiac function and to analyze the single and multi factors leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with complicated heart disease.Results:Among 162 pregnant women with combined heart disease in pregnancy,the highest percentage of heart disease type was congenital heart disease(80/49.38%),and the lowest percentage was other(9/5.56%);the overall incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with combined heart disease in pregnancy with cardiac function grades of 3–4 cardiac function(30/68.18%)was higher than that in pregnant women with combined heart disease in cardiac function grades of 1–2(40/33.90%)(P=0.000);age,marital status,hypertension,and past history of all pregnant women were not statistically significant(P>0.05);gestational age,type of heart disease,and cardiac function grading were statistically significant(P<0.05),and these factors were all independent risk factors for adverse pregnancy resolution in pregnant women with combined heart disease(P<0.05).Conclusion:The overall incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was higher in pregnant women with heart disease than in those with heart disease grades 1–2,and the number of pregnancies,the type of heart disease,and heart function grades were all independent risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with heart disease.

Effect of Third Interstitial Fluid on Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Severe Pre-eclampsia and Twin Pregnancy:A 5-year Single-center Retrospective Study

Objective This study aims to identify the effect of third interstitial fluid on adverse outcomes in twin pregnancies with severe pre-eclampsia,and explore the differences in bad ending between twins and singletons.Methods The present retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with severe pre-eclampsia,who delivered in Tongji Hospital,Wuhan,China,between 2017 and 2022.The adverse outcomes in singleton and twin pregnancies with severe pre-eclampsia were initially investigated.Then,the diverse maternal and fetal consequences between singleton and twin pregnancies in patients with severe pre-eclampsia were compared after merging with the third interstitial fluid.Results A total of 709 patients were included for the present study.Among these patients,68 patients had twin pregnancies,and 641 patients had singleton pregnancies.The rate of postpartum hemorrhage(2.81%vs.13.24%,P<0.001),and admission rate to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU)after birth(30.73%vs.63.24%,P=0.011)were significantly higher in twin pregnancies.The neonatal weight of twins was statistically lower than singletons(1964.73±510.61 g vs.2142.92±731.25 g,P=0.008).For the groups with the third interstitial fluid,the delivery week(P=0.001)and rate of admission to the NICU after birth were significantly advanced in twin pregnancy group,when compared to singleton pregnancy group(P=0.032),and the length of hospital stay was shorter(P=0.044).Furthermore,there was no statistically significant difference between the twin pregnancy group and the singletony pregnancy group without the third interstitial fluid.Conclusion The maternal and fetal adverse outcomes of patients with severe pre-eclampsia increased in twin pregnancies,when compared to singleton pregnancies.Thus,when patients develop the third interstitial fluid,twin pregnancies would more likely lead to adverse fetal outcomes,when compared to singleton pregnancies,and there would be no significant difference in maternal adverse outcomes.More attention should be given to patients who merge with the third interstitial fluid.

A Meta-Analysis on the Correlation Between Herpes Simplex Virus Type II Infection and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in China

Objective:To systematically evaluate the relationship between herpes simplex virus type II(HSV-2)infection in pregnant women and the adverse pregnancy outcomes(preterm delivery,spontaneous abortion,stillbirth,monstrum,low birth weight,intrauterine growth retardation,premature rupture of membranes),so as to provide clinical guidance for the prevention and treatment of adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by HSV-2 infection in pregnant women.Methods:2140 articles were collected from PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),and other databases for the past 20 years.According to the inclusion criteria,the literatures about the relationship between HSV-2 infection of pregnant women and adverse pregnancy outcomes were screened.The effect model was determined by heterogeneity test results,and the meta-analysis was carried out by RevMan 5.3 software.Results:The results of meta-analysis showed that the positive rate of HSV-2 was higher in the adverse pregnancy group than in the control group(odds ratio[OR]:7.92,95%confidence interval[Cl]:3.91-16.01),and the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion:HSV-2 infection will increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.Prevention and effective control of HSV-2 infection in early pregnancy can reduce the rate of adverse pregnancy outcome,which is of great significance to the promotion of eugenics.

Impact of depression on in-hospital outcomes for adults with type 2 myocardial infarction:A United States population-based analysis

BACKGROUND Type 2 myocardial infarction(T2MI)is an ischemic myocardial injury in the context of oxygen supply/demand mismatch in the absence of a primary coronary event.However,though there is a rising prevalence of depression and its potential association with type 1 myocardial infarction(T1MI),data remains nonexistent to evaluate the asso-ciation with T2MI.AIM To identify the prevalence and risk of T2MI in adults with depression and its impact on the in-hospital outcomes.METHODS We queried the National Inpatient Sample(2019)to identify T2MI hospitalizations using Internal Classification of Diseases-10 codes in hospitalized adults(≥18 years).In addition,we compared sociodemographic and comorbidities in the T2MI cohort with vs without comorbid depression.Finally,we used multivariate regression analysis to study the odds of T2MI hospitalizations with vs without depression and in-hospital outcomes(all-cause mortality,cardiogenic shock,cardiac arrest,and stroke),adjusting for confounders.Statistical significance was RESULTS There were 331145 adult T2MI hospitalizations after excluding T1MI(median age:73 years,52.8%male,69.9%white);41405(12.5%)had depression,the remainder;289740 did not have depression.Multivariate analysis revealed lower odds of T2MI in patients with depression vs without[adjusted odds ratio(aOR)=0.88,95%confidence interval(CI):0.86-0.90,P=0.001].There was the equal prevalence of prior MI with any revascularization and a similar prevalence of peripheral vascular disease in the cohorts with depression vs without depression.There is a greater prevalence of stroke in patients with depression(10.1%)vs those without(8.6%).There was a slightly higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia in patients with depression vs without depression(56.5%vs 48.9%),as well as obesity(21.3%vs 17.9%).There was generally equal prevalence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus in both cohorts.There was no significant difference in elective and non-elective admissions frequency between cohorts.Patients with depression vs without depression also showed a lower risk of all-cause mortality(aOR=0.75,95%CI:0.67-0.83,P=0.001),cardiogenic shock(aOR=0.65,95%CI:0.56-0.76,P=0.001),cardiac arrest(aOR=0.77,95%CI:0.67-0.89,P=0.001)as well as stroke(aOR=0.79,95%CI:0.70-0.89,P=0.001).CONCLUSION This study revealed a significantly lower risk of T2MI in patients with depression compared to patients without depression by decreasing adverse in-hospital outcomes such as all-cause mortality,cardiogenic shock,cardiac arrest,and stroke in patients with depression.

Retrospective Cohort Study to Investigate Pregnancy Outcomes in a Population of Advanced Maternal Age Congolese Women of Kinshasa: A Study Protocol

Introduction: Pregnancies at advanced maternal age (AMA) are those occurring after the age of 35 years old. They carry a high risk of maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality, thus constituting a public health problem. Several African countries have reported an upward trend in both the age of childbirth and the frequency of women with AMA over the past 20 years. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality remain very high, data on AMA pregnancies go back more than 20 years. Objective: We propose evaluating obstetrical outcomes among women in AMA in our setting and the associated factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study will be conducted in two healthcare facilities (ESS) in Kinshasa. The study population will consist of all women who delivered a single fetus after 28 weeks of gestation between January 2012 and December 2022 (10 years) in the selected ESS. The data collected will be analyzed using R software version 4.2.0. Quantitative variables will be summarized as means with standard deviation or medians with interquartile range. Qualitative variables will be presented as proportions (%). Multivariate logistic regression will be used to determine the main maternal-fetal complications associated with AMA and predictors of obstetric outcomes. P Discussion: The high maternal and infant mortality rates in DRC are among the highest in the world. The context of maternal age has become a topic of growing interest due to its potential implications for the health of women and newborns, it is crucial to identify the risk factors associated with obstetric outcomes by identifying obstetrical outcomes associated with advanced maternal age in the DRC. Many Congolese women tend to start their maternity journey at a relatively young age. However, there is also an emerging trend towards delayed childbearing, particularly in urban areas and among women with access to education and family planning services. Conclusion: The results of this study will enable us to update the frequency of AMA pregnancies in our environment. The socio-demographic and clinical profile of these pregnancies will be determined. The main maternal-fetal complications associated with AMA in our setting and the associated factors will be identified.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors in peripheral artery disease:A review of efficacy,safety,and outcomes

Peripheral artery disease(PAD)is a common condition characterized by atherosclerosis in the peripheral arteries,associated with concomitant coronary and cerebrovascular diseases.Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9)inhibitors are a class of drugs that have shown potential in hypercholesterolemic patients.This review focuses on the efficacy,safety,and clinical outcomes of PCSK9 inhibitors in PAD based on the literature indexed by PubMed.Trials such as FOURIER and ODYSSEY demonstrate the efficacy of evolocumab and alirocumab in reducing cardiovascular events,offering a potential treatment option for PAD patients.Safety evaluations from trials show few adverse events,most of which are injection-site reactions,indicating the overall safety profile of PCSK9 inhibitors.Clinical outcomes show a reduction in cardiovascular events,ischemic strokes,and major adverse limb events.However,despite these positive findings,PCSK9 inhibitors are still underutilized in clinical practice,possibly due to a lack of awareness among care providers and cost concerns.Further research is needed to establish the long-term effects and cost-effectiveness of PCSK9 inhibitors in PAD patients.

Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy and HIV Exposure in Utero on Adverse Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes:A Prospective Cohort Study in Guangzhou, China

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of in-utero exposure to HIV and ART on pregnancy outcome and early growth of children.Methods This cohort study enrolled 802 HIV-infected pregnant women between October 2009 and May 2018 in Guangzhou, China. The women were assigned to receive combination ART(c ART) or mono/dual ART or no treatment. The primary outcomes were the combined endpoints of any adverse pregnancy outcome [including ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, preterm birth, small for gestational age(SGA)] and adverse early growth outcome(including infant death, HIV infection of mother-to-child transmission, and underweight, wasting and stunting of infants at 4 weeks of age).Results Adverse pregnancy outcomes occurred in 202(35.1%) of all enrolled HIV-infected women, and121(31.3%) of all infants exhibited adverse effects on early growth at 4 weeks of age. The rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes, spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, infant death and perinatal HIV infection were higher among women not receiving ART, compared to those treated with c ART or mono/dual ART(P < 0.05). However, women treated with c ART had a higher rate of SGA,compared to untreated women(P < 0.05). No differences in early infant growth were observed among the different treatment regimens.Conclusion Our findings underscore the essentiality of prioritizing HIV-positive pregnant women for ART, as even mono/dual ART available in resource-limited countries could improve pregnancy outcomes and infant survival.

Factors Associated with Adverse Therapeutic Outcomes in People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Monitored in Roi Baudouin Health Care Center, Dakar, Senegal

Background: Optimizing antiretroviral therapy is an essential step to reach the 90 - 90 - 90 targets. Despite tremendous progress made for antiretroviral treatment (ART) to be accessible in countries with limited resources, health care providers continue to face challenges due to the under-optimization of ART due to therapeutic failures and poor retention. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of adverse therapeutic outcomes in a decentralized health care center and to determine associated factors. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study targeting PLHIV, aged 18 years and over, on first line antiretroviral treatment (ART), monitored onsite from February 1st to December 31st, 2018. A data collection form was completed from medical records (clinical, immuno-virological, therapeutic and evolutionary). Data were also collected from interviews with patients for additional socio-demographic information including the level of HIV knowledge. Data were captured and analyzed using EPI 2002 and R software. Proportions were compared using the chi -square and Fisher tests and logistic regression. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 331 patients were enrolled with HIV-1 profile in 89% of the cases. A proportion of 55% was married and 98% came from the rural area. 80% were either not or poorly educated. The median of age was 44 ± 11 years with a F/M ratio of 3.5. 30% that had not shared their HIV status, and more than half had a low knowledge of HIV transmission. At baseline, 56% were symptomatic at WHO stage 3 or 4. They had severe immunosuppression with a median CD4 count of 217 ± 187 cells/mm3;the viral load was detectable in half of the patients with a median viral load (VL) of 97,000 ± 70,569 cp/ml. The antiretroviral regimens combined 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) with 1 no nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in 88% of the cases. The median duration of follow-up was estimated at 60 ± 43 months. The prevalence of adverse therapeutic outcomes was 36% (119 patients). The proportion of virological failure was 19%, lost follow up was 20% and the mortality was 4%. The adverse therapeutic outcomes were associated with the age less than 25 years (p = 0.007) and with a late diagnosis (CD4 T cells at baseline less than 200 cell/mm3, p = 0.02). Conclusion: These results suggest the need to make new therapeutic classes available for first-line treatment and to promote actions improving retention in care.

Risk factors for adverse in-hospital outcomes in acute colonic diverticular hemorrhage

AIM: To investigate the factors associated with transfusion, further bleeding, and prolonged length of stay.METHODS: In total, 153 patients emergently hospitalized for diverticular bleeding who were examined by colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled. Patients in whom the bleeding source was identified received endoscopic treatment such as clipping or endoscopic ligation. After spontaneous cessation of bleeding withconservative treatment or hemostasis with endoscopic treatment, all patients were started on a liquid food diet and gradually progressed to a solid diet over 3d, and were discharged. At enrollment, we assessed smoking, alcohol, medications [non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs(NSAIDs)], low-dose aspirin, and other antiplatelets, warfarin, acetaminophen, and oral corticosteroids), and co-morbidities [hypertension,diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cerebro-cardiovascular disease, chronic liver disease, and chronic kidney disease(CKD)]. The in-hospital outcomes were need for transfusion, further bleeding after spontaneous cessation of hemorrhage, and length of hospital stay.The odds ratio(OR) for transfusion need, further bleeding, and prolonged length of stay were estimated by logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: No patients required angiographic embolization or surgery. Stigmata of bleeding occurred in 18% of patients(27/153) and was treated by endoscopic procedures. During hospitalization, 40patients(26%) received a median of 6 units of packed red blood cells. Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex(OR = 2.5, P = 0.02), warfarin use(OR= 9.3, P < 0.01), and CKD(OR = 5.9, P < 0.01)were independent risk factors for transfusion need.During hospitalization, 6 patients(3.9%) experienced further bleeding, and NSAID use(OR = 5.9, P = 0.04)and stigmata of bleeding(OR = 11, P < 0.01) were significant risk factors. Median length of hospital stay was 8 d. Multivariate analysis revealed that age > 70years(OR = 2.1, P = 0.04) and NSAID use(OR = 2.7,P = 0.03) were independent risk factors for prolonged hospitalization(≥ 8 d).CONCLUSION: In colonic diverticular bleeding, female sex, warfarin, and CKD increased the risk of transfusion requirement, while advanced age and NSAID increased the risk of prolonged hospitalization.

Determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes among Sickle Cell Disease deliveries at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania from 1999 to 2011

Purpose: Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s largest burden of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), but due to poor care of SCD in childhood most do not reach reproductive ages. Consequently, due to sporadic cases of SCD in pregnancy, there has been little research attention to the problem in this sub region. This is one of the largest study series of SCD deliveries in Sub-Saharan Africa that aimed to establish the incidence and determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Data of all deliveries from 1999 to 2011 at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Tanzania were analyzed. Deliveries of SCD were obtained and categorized according to presence or absence of adverse pregnancy outcomes based on set composite criteria. Using IBM SPSS statistics version 19, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to determine factors that were independently associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Statistics with p-value < 0.05 were taken as significant. Results: There were 157,473 deliveries during the study period of which 149 were by SCD mothers. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was 624 per 1000 SCD deliveries. Compared to SCD without adverse outcomes, those with adverse outcomes were more likely to be referred from lower health facilities (37% versus 12.5%, P = 0.001), of lower mean gestation age (36.3 ± 2.3 versus 38.4 ± 1.4, P < 0.001), more prematurity rate (50.7% versus 10.5%, P < 0.001), made lower mean number of antenatal visits (4.7 ± 2.2 versus 6.2 ± 2.4, P < 0.001) and delivered by cesarean section (31.2% versus 19.6%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the odds of adverse outcomes were independently increased with referred compared to non-referred women (OR = 4.4;95% CI: 1.2 - 16.8) and among Cesarean section deliveries compared to vaginal deliveries (OR = 4.2;95% CI: 1.2 - 14.6). The risk of adverse outcomes decreased as the gestation age increased (OR = 0.4;95% CI: 0.3 - 0.6). Conclusion: The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in SCD is unacceptably high mainly contributed by poor management and prematurity.

Differential Factors of Contraceptive Use and Adverse Outcomes of Pregnancy in Women with Ages 15 to 49 in Pretoria, South Africa

Challenges of teenage pregnancy and adverse outcomes of pregnancy constitute a major public health problem in South African women of the childbearing age of 15 to 49 years. This is a 6-year long study that was conducted in Pretoria, South Africa in order to identify factors that affect utilization of modern contraceptives and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women of the childbearing age of 15 to 49 years. Data analysis was conducted by using two-by-two Pearson’s chisquare tests of associations, binary logistic regression analysis, survival analysis, and multilevel analysis. The study showed that the percentage of women who regularly used modern family planning methods such as condoms, pills, injections, intra-uterine devices and sterilization was 41.74%. The average ages of women at first sex and pregnancy were 18.72 and 19.36 years respectively. Adverse outcomes of pregnancy occurred in 12.19% of women. Based on Odds Ratios (OR) estimated from binary logistic regression analysis, utilization of contraceptives was significantly influenced by easy access to family planning services, level of support from sexual partner, and young age at first pregnancy. Based on Hazard Ratios (HR) estimated from the Cox Proportional Hazards Model, the occurrence of adverse outcomes of pregnancy was significantly influenced by easy access to family planning services, unwanted pregnancy, and young age at first pregnancy. Women who experienced adverse outcomes of pregnancy were characterized by poor utilization of reproductive health and modern family planning services. There was a significant difference among the 20 health service delivery wards and 11 health service facilities in which reproductive health services were delivered to women with regards to the quality of service delivery.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes in extremely maternal age

Objective: To study the adverse outcome in pregnant women ≤ 16 and ≥ 40 years. Study Design: A total of 1100 cases, 1061 cases of pregnant women ≤ 16 years, 20 - 29 and ≥ 40 years with completed charts between 1st January, 2006 to 31st December, 2010, were enrolled in this study. The patient data includeing demographic data, hospital course, maternal laboratory investigations, maternal complications, placental complications and neonatal outcomes were recorded. SPSS version 14, one-way Anowa, Chi-square and analysis of varience were used to compare the data among two and three groups. Results: Anemia, underlying medical diseases including heart, thyroid and pulmonary diseases, obstetric complications including severe pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, placenta previa and preterm labour;medical administrations including magnesium sulfate, dexamethasone and bricanyl, outcome of deliveries and neonatal outcomes, were different with statistical significance between the 3 groups of pregnant women. Conclusion: Adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes were mostly found in the pregnant women ≤ 16 and ≥ 40 years. Education of contraception, safe sex and effective care during pregnancy of both extremely maternal age groups should be implemented to reduce those poor outcomes.

Interim Outcomes and Adverse Events among Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients Treated with Bedaquiline in the Philippines

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the interim outcomes for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients treated with bedaquiline regimen under the operational research conditions compared to DR-TB patients treated without bedaquiline in their regimen, and to describe the adverse events that occurred among patients treated with bedaquiline in the Philippines. Design: Patients who were treated with a bedaquiline-containing regimen from June 2016 to May 2017 were included in this study as the intervention group, while patients who were treated without bedaquiline regimen from January 2013 to May 2016 were included as the comparison group. The interim treatment outcomes were compared using Chi-square test. The analysis of time to culture conversion within 6 months of treatment was conducted. A Cox proportional hazard model was constructed to identify the variables associated with a favorable interim treatment outcome. The R program was used for statistical analysis. Results: On the 6th month of treatment, the culture conversion for patients treated with a bedaquiline-containing regimen was significantly higher than with the comparison group [63/75 (84.0%) vs 84/117 (71.8%), p = 0.012)]. Nearly 15% of the patients treated with bedaquiline were lost to follow-up. Frequent adverse events included vomiting, dizziness, nausea, joint pain, and abdominal pain. Conclusion: The patients who were treated with bedaquiline-containing regimen have better interim treatment outcomes than those treated without bedaquiline, but the proportion of patients who were lost to follow-up remains substantial.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Prevention among Women of Reproductive Age in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria

Background: Adverse pregnancy outcomes continue to contribute substantially to maternal mortality as well as poor maternal and fetal health outcomes whose burden can be reduced by the initiation of preventive behaviors like the uptake of maternal health services. This continuous unacceptably high maternal mortality justifies a need for progressive research to better understand the predictors of the preventive behaviors of women towards adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study was conducted to assess levels of knowledge, attitudes about adverse pregnancy outcomes and preventive practices among women of reproductive age in Nassarawa local government area, Kano State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study that employed a four-sectioned pretested researcher administered questionnaire to collect data on knowledge, attitude and practice of adverse pregnancy outcomes prevention among 164 consenting respondents in Kano State, Nigeria between November 2020 and December 2020. Responses were transformed and computed using SPSS version 26 to generate descriptive statistics. Regression analysis was done to test the degree of association between the predictors and practice of adverse pregnancy outcomes prevention with the level of significance set at a cut-off of p ≤ 0.05. Results: The findings showed that the majority of the respondents were between 20 - 24 years of age and had secondary educational attainment. Results further revealed that knowledge and attitude about adverse pregnancy outcomes which were both measured on 18-point scales, reported for the respondents’ mean scores of 9.46 (9.07 ± 9.85) and 10.72 (9.79 ± 10.62) respectively. The practice of adverse pregnancy outcomes prevention when assessed on a 15-point scale shows that respondents scored a mean of 7.42 ± 8.30 which denotes 53.4% of the level of prevention practice anticipated from the respondents. The study also showed a significant positive association between the level of knowledge (p = 0.010), attitude (p < 0.001) and prevention practice of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: The findings reported an average but inadequate knowledge and neutral attitude that predicted unsatisfactory adverse pregnancy outcomes prevention practices among the examined reproductive-aged women, which calls for targeted health education on adverse pregnancy outcomes within the community in order to inform better prevention practices.

Is low postoperative cholesterol level really an independent risk factor of adverse outcomes after living donor liver transplantation?

To the Editor:We read with great interest the article by Yang et al.[1]evaluating the effects of postoperative serum total cholesterol(s TC)changes on early allograft dysfunction and survival after living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).By the multivariate regression analysis,they showed that patients with s TC<1.42 mmol/L on postoperative day 3 had 4.08-fold and 2.72-fold greater risks of