Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Research Publications

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    Is optimal first-line chemotherapy deliverable in all newly diagnosed ovarian cancers? A population-based study.
    McNally, OM ; Delaney, E ; Petty, RD ; Cruickshank, ME ; Hutcheon, AW ; Parkin, DE (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2003-09-15)
    NICE guidance recommends the use of paclitaxel and a platinum therapy for all cases of ovarian cancer. We report our experience of treating 133 patients with ovarian cancer over a 3-year period. Where indicated, 91% received chemotherapy. A taxane/platinum combination was found to be appropriate in 63% of patients only.
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    Laparoscopic surgical techniques for endometriosis and adenomyosis.
    Wood, C ; Maher, P ; Woods, R (Hindawi Limited, 2000)
    The details of surgical techniques for laparoscopic removal of endometriosis and adenomyosis are described briefly in textbooks and gynaecological journal articles. We have described a wide variety of techniques for the various procedures required in the treatment of endometriosis and adenomyosis, excluding hysterectomy. The principles are based upon those used in removal of primary cancer lesions. The limitations of thermal ablation are discussed, and evidence of improved results after excision of lesions have been submitted for publication.
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    New strategies for treating myomas.
    Wood, C ; Maher, P (Hindawi Limited, 1996)
    Laparoscopic minilaparotomy in 6 patients using the Maher abdominal elevator facilitated both quicker enucleation and morcellation of the myoma and suture of the myoma cavity. Myoma reduction in 12 patients by electrosurgery resulted in a 60% reduction in myoma diameter with failure in 2 patients. This technique may avoid myomectomy and be particularly useful in patients with infertility or near menopause.
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    A randomised controlled trial of early insulin therapy in very low birth weight infants, "NIRTURE" (neonatal insulin replacement therapy in Europe).
    Beardsall, K ; Vanhaesebrouck, S ; Ogilvy-Stuart, AL ; Ahluwalia, JS ; Vanhole, C ; Palmer, C ; Midgley, P ; Thompson, M ; Cornette, L ; Weissenbruch, M ; Thio, M ; de Zegher, F ; Dunger, D (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2007-08-10)
    BACKGROUND: Studies in adult intensive care have highlighted the importance of insulin and improved glucose control on survival, with 32% reduction in mortality, 22% reduction in intensive care stay and halving of the incidence of bacteraemia. Very low birth weight infants requiring intensive care also have relative insulin deficiency often leading to hyperglycaemia during the first week of life. The physiological influences on insulin secretion and sensitivity, and the potential importance of glucose control at this time are not well established. However there is increasing evidence that the early postnatal period is critical for pancreatic development. At this time a complex set of signals appears to influence pancreatic development and beta cell survival. This has implications both in terms of acute glucose control but also relative insulin deficiency is likely to play a role in poor postnatal growth, which has been associated with later motor and cognitive impairment, and fewer beta cells are linked to risk of type 2 diabetes later in life. METHODS: A multi-centre, randomised controlled trial of early insulin replacement in very low birth weight babies (VLBW, birth weight < 1500 g). 500 infants will be recruited from 10 centres in the UK and Europe. Babies will be randomised to receive a continuous insulin infusion (0.05 units/kg/h) or to receive standard neonatal care from the first day of life and for the next 7 days. If blood glucose (BG) levels fall infants will receive 20% dextrose titrated to maintain normoglycaemia (4-8 mmol/l). If BG is consistently above 10 mmol/l babies will receive standard treatment with additional insulin infusion. The primary end point will be mortality on or before expected date of delivery, secondary end points will be markers of morbidity and include episodes of sepsis, severity of retinopathy, chronic lung disease and growth.
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    LIMITATIONS OF THE CLONAL AGAR ASSAY FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY HUMAN OVARIAN TUMOR-BIOPSIES
    BERTONCELLO, I ; BRADLEY, TR ; CAMPBELL, JJ ; DAY, AJ ; MCDONALD, IA ; MCLEISH, GR ; QUINN, MA ; ROME, R ; HODGSON, GS (CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE, 1982)
    114 biopsy specimens from 70 patients with ovarian carcinoma at all stages of disease were submitted for assessment of clonogenic capacity in agar. A highly significant correlation was found between agar clonogenicity and patient survival after biopsy. However, problems related to inherent tumour heterogeneity, quality of sample and tissue disaggregation indicate that this technique may have limited applicability in the routine assessment of patients. Only 41 biopsy specimens (36%) from 31 patients (44.3%) complied with the prerequisite criteria for agar clonogenic assessment, namely: (a) the confirmed presence of malignant cells in the biopsy, (b) the ability to prepare a single-cell suspension, and (c) adequate viable cell numbers for assay. Furthermore, although the dominant patterns of agar clonogenic growth could be identified and correlated with stage of disease, the heterogeneity in both initial clonogenic capacity and "self-renewal" capacity assessed by the ability of primary clones to propagate in liquid culture and reclone in agar was too inconsistent for the assay to be used as a prognostic index for the individual patient.
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    The Magpie Trial:: a randomised trial comparing magnesium sulphate with placebo for pre-eclampsia.: Outcome for children at 18 months
    Duley, L ; Farrell, B ; Armstrong, N ; Spark, P ; Roberts, B ; Smyth, R ; Tivnan, M ; Laws, A ; Corfield, N ; Salter, A ; Thorn, L ; Altman, D ; Yu, L-M ; Abalos, E ; Carroli, B ; Dellepiane, L ; Duarte, M ; Fernandez, H ; Giordano, D ; Altman, D ; Armstrong, N ; Clarke, M ; Duley, L ; Farrell, B ; Gray, A ; Hey, E ; Neilson, J ; Simon, J ; Spark, P ; Smyth, R ; Yu, L-M ; Doyle, L ; Hey, E ; Kelly, T ; Squires, J ; Altman, D ; Collins, R ; Duley, L ; Farrell, B ; Karaoglou, A ; Lilford, R ; Moodley, J ; Neilson, J ; Robson, S ; Roberts, I ; Rubin, P ; Thornton, J ; Twaddle, S ; Villar, J ; Walker, I ; Watkins, C ; Abalos, E ; Altman, D ; Armstrong, N ; Doyle, L ; Duley, L ; Farrell, B ; Hey, E ; Moodley, J ; Neilson, J ; Spark, P ; Smyth, R ; Yu, L-M ; Bimbashi, A ; Demalia, E ; Gliozheni, O ; Shpata, A ; Karolinski, A ; Lamas, M ; Pesaresi, M ; Wainer, V ; Barbato, W ; Paciocco, M ; Bertin, M ; Boiza, E ; Castaldi, J ; Partida, Y ; Farri, M ; Kerz, G ; Aguirre, J ; de Sagastiza, M ; Falcone, R ; Morales, E ; Carroli, G ; Krupitzky, S ; Lopez, S ; Palermo, M ; Varela, DM ; Delprato, H ; Camusso, H ; Curioni, M ; Ludmer, E ; Brandi, R ; Martin, R ; Mesas, W ; Taralli, R ; Lezaola, M ; Morosini, M ; Andina, E ; Bernal, L ; Estiu, M ; Ulens, E ; de Speranza, BO ; Peyrano, A ; Damiano, M ; Saumench, C ; Horn, J ; Pritchard, M ; Smith-Orr, V ; Wilson, M ; Lawrence, A ; Watson, D ; Crowther, C ; Paynter, J ; Mannan, M ; Shahidullah, M ; Shamsuddin, L ; Barros Santos, C ; Freire, S ; Melo, E ; Cobo, E ; Jaramillo, M ; Cardozo, C ; Fandino, N ; Gaitan, H ; Montano, L ; Lozano, J ; Rojas, M ; Breto Garcia, A ; Fuentes Ramirez, A ; Garcia Miras, R ; Sampera, S ; Farnot, U ; Gomez, E ; Rojas, G ; Valdez, R ; El-Kreem, HA ; Al-Hussaini, T ; Hammad, E ; Danso, K ; Kwapong, E ; Ofosu-Barko, F ; Jasper, MP ; Peedicayil, A ; Regi, A ; Sharma, R ; Chauhan, A ; Raut, V ; Udani, R ; Batra, S ; Muthal-Rathore, A ; Ramji, S ; Zutshi, V ; Balakrishnan, S ; Eapen, E ; Koshy, G ; Ambardar, B ; Vadakkepat, P ; Vaidya, D ; Lema, V ; Rijken, Y ; Tadesse, E ; Dada, O ; Sofekun, A ; Ohiaeri, C ; Runsewe-Abiodun, T ; Adewole, I ; Adeyemo, A ; Brown, B ; Oladokun, R ; Adewale, O ; Inimgba, N ; John, C ; Ogu, R ; Ekele, B ; Isah, A ; Onankpa, B ; Jamelle, R ; Junejo, D ; Faiz, NR ; Gul, F ; Sherin, A ; Bangash, K ; Mahmud, G ; Masud, K ; Tasneem, N ; Gassama, S ; Soyei, A ; Agarwal, P ; Rajadurai, V ; Hani, C ; Pirani, N ; Delport, S ; Macdonald, P ; Mokhondo, R ; Pattinson, R ; Zondo, M ; Adhikari, M ; Mnguni, N ; Moodley, J ; Carstens, M ; Kirsten, G ; Steyn, W ; van Zyl, J ; Helwig, A ; Jacobson, S-L ; Panosche, R ; Hammond, E ; Masanganise, L (WILEY, 2007-03)
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term effects of in utero exposure to magnesium sulphate for children whose mothers had pre-eclampsia. DESIGN: Assessment at 18 months of age for children whose mothers were recruited to the Magpie Trial (recruitment 1998-2001 ISRCTN 86938761), which compared magnesium sulphate with placebo. SETTING: Follow-up of children born at 125 centres in 19 countries across five continents. POPULATION: A total of 6922 children were born to women randomised before delivery at follow-up centres. Of these, 2271 were not included for logistic reasons and 168 were excluded (101 at a centre where <20% were contacted, 40 whose death or disability was due to a problem at conception or embryogenesis and 27 whose parent/s opted out). Therefore, 4483 children were included in follow-up, of whom 3283 (73%) were contacted. METHODS: Assessment by questionnaire, with interview and neurodevelopmental testing of selected children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Death or neurosensory disability at age of 18 months. RESULTS: Of those allocated magnesium sulphate, 245/1635 (15.0%) were dead or had neurosensory disability at 18 months compared with 233/1648 (14.1%) allocated placebo (relative risk [RR] 1.06, 95% CI 0.90-1.25), and of survivors, 19/1409 (1.3%) had neurosensory disability at 18 months compared with 27/1442 (1.9%) (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.40-1.29). There were no substantial differences in causes of death or in the risk of individual impairments or disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The lower risk of eclampsia following prophylaxis with magnesium sulphate was not associated with a clear difference in the risk of death or disability for children at 18 months.
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    The Magpie Trial:: a randomised trial comparing magnesium sulphate with placebo for pre-eclampsia.: Outcome for women at 2 years
    Duley, L ; Farrell, B ; Armstrong, N ; Spark, P ; Roberts, B ; Smyth, R ; Tivnan, M ; Laws, A ; Corfield, N ; Salter, A ; Thorn, L ; Altman, D ; Yu, L-M ; Abalos, E ; Carroli, B ; Dellepiane, L ; Duarte, M ; Fernandez, H ; Giordano, D ; Clarke, M ; Gray, A ; Hey, E ; Neilson, J ; Simon, J ; Collins, R ; Karaoglou, A ; Lilford, R ; Moodley, J ; Robson, S ; Roberts, I ; Rubin, P ; Thornton, J ; Twaddle, S ; Villar, J ; Walker, I ; Watkins, C ; Doyle, L ; Bimbashi, A ; Demalia, E ; Gliozheni, O ; Shpata, A ; Karolinski, A ; Lamas, M ; Pesaresi, M ; Wainer, V ; Barbato, W ; Paciocco, M ; Bertin, M ; Boiza, E ; Castaldi, J ; Partida, Y ; Arias, C ; Farri, M ; Kerz, G ; Aguirre, J ; de Sagastizabal, M ; Falcone, R ; Morales, E ; Carroli, G ; Krupitzky, S ; Lopez, S ; Palermo, M ; Varela, DM ; Delprato, H ; Camusso, H ; Curioni, M ; Ludmer, E ; Brandi, R ; Martin, R ; Mesas, W ; Taralli, R ; Lezaola, M ; Morosini, M ; Andina, E ; Bernal, L ; Estiu, M ; Ulens, E ; de Speranza, BO ; Peyrano, A ; Damiano, M ; Saumench, C ; Horn, J ; Pritchard, M ; Smith-Orr, V ; Wilson, M ; Lawrence, A ; Watson, D ; Crowther, C ; Paynter, J ; Ashrafunnessa, ; Mannan, M ; Shahidullah, M ; Shamsuddin, L ; Santos, CB ; Freire, S ; Melo, E ; Cobo, E ; Jaramillo, M ; Cardozo, C ; Fandino, N ; Gaitan, H ; Montano, L ; Lozano, J ; Rojas, M ; Garcia, AB ; Ramirez, AF ; Miras, RG ; Sampera, S ; Farnot, U ; Gomez, E ; Rojas, G ; Valdes, R ; El-Kreem, HA ; Al-Hussaini, T ; Hammad, E ; Danso, K ; Kwapong, E ; Ofosu-Barko, F ; Jasper, MP ; Peedicayil, A ; Regi, A ; Sharma, R ; Chauhan, A ; Raut, V ; Udani, R ; Batra, S ; Muthal-Rathore, A ; Ramji, S ; Zutshi, V ; Balakrishnan, S ; Eapen, E ; Koshy, G ; Ambardar, B ; Vadakkepat, P ; Vaidya, D ; Lema, V ; Rijken, Y ; Tadesse, E ; Dada, O ; Sofekun, A ; Ohiaeri, C ; Runsewe-Abiodun, T ; Adewole, I ; Adeyemo, A ; Brown, B ; Oladokun, R ; Adewale, O ; Inimgba, N ; John, C ; Ogu, R ; Ekele, B ; Isah, A ; Onankpa, B ; Jamelle, R ; Junejo, D ; Faiz, N ; Gul, F ; Sherin, A ; Bangash, K ; Mahmud, G ; Masud, K ; Tasneem, N ; Gassama, S ; Soyei, A ; Agarwal, P ; Rajadurai, V ; Pirani, N ; Delport, S ; Macdonald, P ; Mokhondo, R ; Pattinson, R ; Zondo, M ; Adhikari, M ; Mnguni, N ; Moodley, J ; Carstens, M ; Kirsten, G ; Steyn, W ; van Zyl, J ; Helwig, A ; Jacobson, S-L ; Panosche, R ; Hammond, E ; Masanganise, L (WILEY, 2007-03)
    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess long-term effects for women following the use of magnesium sulphate for pre-eclampsia. DESIGN: Assessment at 2-3 years after delivery for women recruited to the Magpie Trial (recruitment in 1998-2001, ISRCTN 86938761), which compared magnesium sulphate with placebo for pre-eclampsia. SETTING: Follow up after discharge from hospital at 125 centres in 19 countries across five continents. POPULATION: A total of 7927 women were randomised at the follow-up centres. Of these women, 2544 were not included for logistic reasons and 601 excluded (109 at a centre where <20% of women were contacted, 466 discharged without a surviving child and 26 opted out). Therefore, 4782 women were selected for follow-up, of whom 3375 (71%) were traced. METHODS: Questionnaire assessment was administered largely by post or in a dedicated clinic. Interview assessment of selected women was performed. Main outcome measures Death or serious morbidity potentially related to pre-eclampsia at follow up, other morbidity and use of health service resources. RESULTS: Median time from delivery to follow up was 26 months (interquartile range 19-36). Fifty-eight of 1650 (3.5%) women allocated magnesium sulphate died or had serious morbidity potentially related to pre-eclampsia compared with 72 of 1725 (4.2%) women allocated placebo (relative risk 0.84, 95% CI 0.60-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in the risk of eclampsia following prophylaxis with magnesium sulphate was not associated with an excess of death or disability for the women after 2 years.
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    Role of genital mycoplasmas in bacteremia: should we be routinely culturing for these organisms?
    Garland, SM ; Kelly, VN (Hindawi Limited, 1996)
    OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the genital mycoplasmas Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum as causes of bacteremia in a tertiary referral obstetrical, gynecological, and neonatal intensive care facility, over a period of 12 years from 1983 to 1994 inclusively. METHODS: All clinically significant blood cultures were reviewed and the percentage of septicemic episodes for genital mycoplasmas was compared to the total isolation rate, including conventional bacteria. RESULTS: The overall positivity rate for all pathogenic organisms isolated from the blood cultures of infants ranged from 4.5% to 7.7% per annum. U. urealyticum represented 0.8% of these positive isolates and M. hominis 0.4%. For adults, the overall positivity rate from blood cultures ranged from 6.5% to 13.5%, with U. urealyticum representing 9.6% of these positive isolates and M. hominis 9.9%. CONCLUSIONS: With M. hominis having an established role in such clinical entities as postabortal and postpartum fever and U. urealyticum strongly implicated with chronic lung disease in low birth weight infants, it is appropriate to examine blood cultures for genital mycoplasmas in an obstetric institution.
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    Public and/or private health care: tuberculosis patients' perspectives in Myanmar.
    Saw, S ; Manderson, L ; Bandyopadhyay, M ; Sein, TT ; Mon, MM ; Maung, W (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2009-07-28)
    BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in Myanmar as in other developing countries. About 73% of TB patients seek care at private general practitioners' clinics before presenting to the public TB centre, raising questions about how best to prevent transmission and maintain treatment regimens. METHOD: The study was conducted in two townships in Yangon Division in Myanmar in 2004, and examined treatment seeking behaviour of TB patients and their views towards public and private health care services. This was an exploratory descriptive study. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in data collection from TB patients, health care professionals, and members of various agencies involved in TB Control Programme. RESULTS: A considerable delay was found between the onset of symptoms of TB and seeking treatment (five days - two months). General practitioners were the first point of contact in all cases. Old TB patients influenced the treatment seeking behaviour and choice of treatment clinics of new TB patients. Most patients viewed the public health sector as a place to obtain free treatment and the private sector as a fee-paying, convenient and better place to seek treatment. CONCLUSION: The involvement of private general practitioners is crucial for effective TB control in Myanmar. The selection of GPs for partnership with the public sector is vital to the success of public-private partnership in controlling TB.
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    Policy on infant formula industry funding, support or sponsorship of articles submitted for publication.
    Beasley, A ; Amir, LH (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2007-03-06)
    Despite current scientific evidence that artificial feeding is a harmful practice, unquestioned acceptance of breastfeeding as the normal or "default" method of infant feeding remains elusive in the industrialised world. Throughout the developing world the profound consequences of the aggressive marketing strategies of the infant formula industry since the end of the Second World War is well known. A key objective of the International Breastfeeding Journal is to promote breastfeeding through addressing issues that encourage breastfeeding initiation, duration and effective management. Informing this aim is the recognition of artificial feeding as a harmful practice that places infant health at risk. From this perspective it would be unethical for this journal to accept for publication any manuscript that has received funding, sponsorship or any other means of support from infant formula manufacturers. This stance is consistent with the journal's aim of supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding. It will also contribute to the promotion of a breastfeeding culture.