Previable Premature Rupture of Membranes in Dichorionic Diamniotic Twin Gestation, Loss of Leading Twin, Emergency Cervical Cerclage and Ceaserean Delivery at Term

Introduction: Multiple pregnancies have a higher risk of premature delivery and a weakened cervix has been associated with it. In most cases, emergency cerclage has proved to be beneficial as the birth of the first twin is usually followed by the unavoidable delivery of the second twin and most fetus dies shortly after delivery. Studies have noted that delayed delivery of the second fetus in a twin pregnancy is an effective management choice and the use of cervical cerclage after the first delivery is associated with a longer inter-delivery interval. We present a case of previable premature rupture of membrane of a dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation leading to the loss of the leading twin and subsequently having emergency cervical cerclage for the second twin and caesarean delivery at term. Case Presentation: She was a case of a 29 years old, G6P1+4 with 1 living child at a gestational age of 17 weeks plus 5 days who initially was diagnosed with dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation following an early ultrasound but presented with a history of bleeding and passage of liquor per vaginam. Ultrasound done on admission showed cervical funneling and a stable state of the second twin. She subsequently had emergency cervical cerclage after stabilization on account of previable premature rupture of membrane of a dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation with the loss of the leading twin. A repeat ultrasound done prior to discharge showed closed cervical os and a good state of the fetus. She then had elective caesarean delivery at term with a good feto-maternal outcome. Conclusion: Emergency cervical cerclage should be part of the options of management after stabilization in cases of previable premature rupture of membrane in a dichorionic or multichoronic gestation so as to save the viable once.

Are the Rules of Classical Epidemiology Valid Today?

Both HIV and COVID-19 infections show that the centuries-old scientifically established epidemiological rules are still valid today, but they have to be applied in time and in a correct manner. Furthermore, when incompetent funded “rights defenders” or political organizations referring to human rights have spread lies and have spoken against the experts-created epidemiological rules as well as the acceptance of vaccination, they have not only cheated everybody but they could also be accused by the crime of endangering of great mass of people which action can cause occasionally death also! It has to be also stated that the interests and rights of the total population are always over that of a single person and also realized that all pathogens live their own life among us according to their determinacy independently from our rights and interests!

Midtrimester pregnancy loss and cervical incompetence—Is there an association with connective tissue laxity?

Objectives: The basic mechanisms of cervical incompetence remain unknown although preliminary histological, biochemical and DNA studies suggest connective tissue pathology may be a contributing factor. Certain connective tissue disorders are known to be associated with obstetric complications. Utilising a standardised established scoring system for connective tissue laxity, this study aimed to test the relationship between clinical evidence of connective tissue laxity and cervical incompetence. Methods: This case-control study involved pregnant and non-pregnant women with a history of mid-trimester pregnancy loss in the absence of major bleeding, infection and uterine abnormalities and a control group of women with uncomplicated obstetric histories. Relevant medical details were obtained. Connective tissue laxity was assessed utilizing the Beighton scoring system. Potential confounding factors, including age, pregnancy and gestation were explored. Results: The frequency of connective tissue laxity between the cases [n = 29] was not statistically different from the controls [n = 58] [p = 0.391] suggesting a lack of association between cervical incompetence and clinical evidence of connective tissue laxity. Conclusion: Although no clear evidence of connective tissue laxity was demonstrated, it is possible that cervical incompetence is associated with abnormal connective tissue. But this abnormality is different from the defect that underlies joint hypermobility and skin elasticity.

Assessment of Ports Competiveness in West and Central African Sub-Regions Using Priest Analytic Hierarchy Process: The Defies &Incompetence of the Port of Douala (Cameroon)

Ports play a fundamental role in a sustainable integration of Africa in International trade. Both importers and exporters, shipping companies and government, however face high cost for sea transport and substantial inefficiency in port operations. This has resulted in congestion, higher dwell time, higher costs which affect the competitive ability in sub regional and global economy. This study investigates the main factors explaining poor container handling operations and limited competitive ability in Cameroonian Ports and aggregating this to the competitive position of Cameroonian ports in the West and Central African sub-regions (WCA). Using Analytic Hierarchy Process (A.H.P), the paper seeks to provide a basic understanding of container transportation and port’s terminal operations problems (constraints & ineffectiveness) in Cameroon.

Application of Color Doppler Ultrasonic Examination in Deep Vein Valvular Incompetence in Lower Limbs

By use of color Doppler Flow Imaging (CDFI), the morphologic and hemodynamic parameters such as the diameters of femoral and popliteal veins,blood flow velocity and the reflux 0f valve area were examined in lower extremity deep valvular incompetence (DVI) and normal control gr0ups. The purpose was to evaluate the value of CDFI in the diagnosis of DVI. The results demonstrated that the parameters between the two groups had a very significant difference (P<0. 001), indicating that the CDFI is non-invasive, cost-effective and safe and it might serve as a practical tool in the diagnosis of lower extremity deep va1vular incompetence.

How to Identify Latent Systolic Dysfunction and Post Operative Risk in Patients with Mitral Incompetence and Normal Ejection Fraction?

Purpose: To study the significance of impaired positive peak rate of left ventricular (LV) pressure development (MR + dp/dt) and global systolic strain (GLPSS) values in patients presented with significant mitral incompetence (MR) in coronary artery disease (CAD) and early dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with normal ejection fraction (EF). Methods: A description of LV contractile behavior requires measurement of the ability of the ventricle to develop force (pressure) and to shorten. Hence, performance of the ventricle as a pump assessed in the present study by measuring the pressure developed by the ventricle (Left ventricular +dP/dt is estimated from MR jet as the rate of pressure rise from 1 to 3 m/sec) and shortening assessed by GLPSS (this Doppler technology allowed measurement of LV systolic strain for the entire length of LV myocardium). GLPSS and MR + dp/dt were calculated in 30 consecutive patients (mean age was 55 ± 12 years) characterized by echocardiographic evidence of moderate or severe MR (in CAD and DCM patients) and normal EF (mean LV Ejection Fraction of 50.9% ± 5.9%) and compared with those obtained in 35 consecutive controls (age 54.7 ± 11.4 years) with normal echocardiographic study of the heart. Results: The mean values of MR +dp/dt and GLPSS averaged from the 3 apical views, differed significantly in DCM and CAD patients (characterized by significant MR with normal EF) compared with control group, (MR + dp/dt = 733 ± 170 mmhg/s and GLPSS –13% ± 1.3%) versus (1420 ± 210 mmhg/s and -19.5% ± 3.3%) for patients versus control, respectively, p < 0.001. A depressed values of MR + dp/dt were highly correlated with GLPSS values in patients with CAD and DCM, r = 0.78. The combined use of 2D Strain (<-13%) and MR dp/dt (<900 mmhg/s) in the presence of MR (grade II or more) had 89% sensitivity and 92% specificity for detection of patients at risk of post-operative major cardiac events after MR and coronary artery bypass surgery. Conclusions: Latent LV systolic dysfunction could be defined noninvasively by depressed peak MR + dp/dt and GLPSS in the echocardiography laboratories.

Clinical Analysis on the Effectiveness of Transvaginal Cervical Cerclage in Singleton Pregnancies and Its Predictive Factors

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of transvaginal cervical cerclage in singleton pregnancies with cervical incompetence, determine the predictive factors of success and failure, and then compare elective and emergency cerclage. Study Design: This was a retrospective study of 62 patients who underwent cervical cerclage in The First Hospital of Jilin University, China, between May 2015 and January 2018. Successful group was defined as those who delivered live babies and failure group who experienced abortion or stillbirth. Results: Out of 104 patients, 62 met inclusion criteria. In 62 cases, 47 (75.8%) succeeded and 15 (24.2%) failed. In successful group, 21 (44.7%) women delivered pretermly and 26 (55.3%) termly. No severe complications occurred except cervical laceration (2, 3.23%), premature rupture of membranes (13, 20.97%). In 62 cases, 40 (64.5%) have ≤2 previous second-trimester losses and 22 (35.5%) have >2 previous second-trimester losses. No significant differences were found in neonatal outcomes. Analysis revealed that higher postoperative C-reactive protein and presence of premature rupture of membranes were the strongest predictors of cerclage failure. Among 62 cases, 48 (77.4%) were allocated in elective and 14 (22.6%) in emergency cerclage. Pregnancy prolongation was significantly more (P = 0.014) in elective group with no significant differences in premature rupture of membranes, neonatal outcomes (all P > 0.05) except Apgar score at 5 min (P = 0.042). Conclusion: Achieving 75.8% live births proves that transvaginal cervical cerclage is an effective and safe technique in prolonging the gestational age, improving the obstetric outcomes in singleton pregnancies with cervical incompetence under various cerclage indications. Postoperative C-reactive protein and premature rupture of membranes are the predictive factors related to success or failure. Elective cerclage is more effective in prolonging the pregnancy compared to emergency cerclage, no significant differences are seen regarding neonatal outcomes and complications.

Role of Cervical Cerclage and Vaginal Progesterone in the Treatment of Cervical Incompetence with/without Preterm Birth History

Background：Preterm birth （PTB） is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide,and its prevention is an important health-care priority.The cervical incompetence is a well-known risk factor for PTB and its incidence is about 0.1-2.0%,while there is no ideal optimum treatment recommended currently.The cervical incompetence causes about 15% of habitual abortion in 16-28 weeks.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone in the treatment of cervical incompetence with/without PTB history.Methods：We retrospectively observed the pregnancy outcome of 198 patients diagnosed with cervical incompetence from January 2010 to October 2015 in Beijing Hospital.Among the 198 women involved,women who had at least one PTB before 32 weeks （including abortion in the second trimester attributed to the cervical competence） were assigned to the PTB history cohort,and others were assigned to the non-PTB history cohort.All women underwent cerclage placement （cervical cerclage group） or administrated with vaginal progesterone （vaginal progesterone group） until delivery.The outcomes of interest were the differences in gestational age at delivery,the rate of premature delivery,neonatal outcome,complications,and route of delivery between the two treatment groups.Results：Among the 198 patients with cervical incompetence,116 patients in PTB history cohort and 80 patients in non-PTB history cohort were included in the final analysis.In the PTB history cohort,cervical cerclage group had significantly longer cervical length at 2 weeks after the start of treatment （23.1 ± 4.6 mm vs.12.4 ± 9.1 mm,P =0.002）,higher proportion of delivery ≥37 weeks＇ gestation （63.4% vs.33.3%,P =0.008）,bigger median birth weight （2860 g vs.2250 g,P =0.031）,and lower proportion of neonates whose 1-min Apgar score 〈7 （5.9% vs.33.3%,P =0.005）,compared with vaginal progesterone group.No significant differences were found in other outcome measures between the two treatment groups.In the non-PTB history cohort,there were no significant differences in the maternal outcomes between cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone groups,such as median gestational age at delivery （37.4 weeks vs.37.3 weeks,P =0.346） and proportion of delivery ≥37 weeks＇ gestation （55.9% vs.60.9%,P =0.569）.There were also no significant differences in the neonatal outcomes between the cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone groups including the median birth weight （2750 g vs.2810 g,P =0.145）,perinatal mortality （5.9% vs.6.5%,P =0.908）,and 1-min Apgar scores （8.8% vs.8.7%,P =0.984）.Conclusions：Cervical cerclage showed more benefits in the maternal and neonatal outcomes than vaginal progesterone therapy for women with an asymptomatic short cervix and prior PTB history,while cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone therapies showed similar effectiveness for women with an asymptomatic short cervix but without a history of PTB.

Effect of Yiqi Bufei Recipe （益气补肺方） on Patients with Pulmonary Incompetence after Pneumonectomy

Objective： To study the effect of Yiqi Bufei Recipe （益气补肺方, YBR） on surgical tolerability, pulmonary compensatory function and post-operation rehabilitation in patients with pulmonary incompetence （PI） after pneumonectomy. Methods： YBR intervention was applied to 60 patients with PI after pneumonectomy （as test group）, the pulmonary and cardiac functions changes before and after operation, occurrence of postoperative complications, mortality, and the number of hospitalization days and intensive care unit （ICU） confinement period were observed. Meantime, for the negative and positive controls, the same parameters were observed comparatively in 60 patients with normal lung function, and in 60 patients with PI undergoing a similar operation but untreated with Chinese herbs. Results： Lung function in the test group showed insignificant change before and after operation （P〉0.05）, while significant decrease was seen in the two control groups （P〈0.05）. Furthermore, the incidences of post-operation complications and mortality as well as the number of hospitalization days and the ICU confinement period in the test group were significantly lower than those in the positive control group respectively （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： YBR could relieve lung injury after pneumonectomy, improve surgical tolerability, reduce the length of postoperative hospitalization days and ICU confinement period, and lower the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality in patients with PI after pneumonectomy.