Contributions of side effects to contraceptive discontinuation and method switch among Kenyan women: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of specific contraceptive side effects to method switch and modern-method discontinuation among Kenyan women. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Five counties in Western Kenya. PARTICIPANTS: Women aged ≥18 years old and emancipated female minors ≥14 years old using modern, reversible contraception were recruited while attending 10 public health facilities. METHODS: Patient-reported adverse effect symptoms, method switch and discontinuation were reported through weekly text message-based surveys for 24 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence, hazards ratio (HR). RESULTS: Among 825 women, 44% were using implants, 43% injectables, 7% an intrauterine device and 6% oral contraceptive pills at enrolment. Most (61%) women were continuing a method used in the previous month. During the 24-week follow up, incidence of contraceptive switch was 61.3 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI] 52.4-71.8) and incidence of discontinuation was 38.5 per 100 person-years (95% CI 31.6-47.0). On average, one-quarter (prevalence [Pr] 0.24, 95% CI 0.22-0.26) of participants reported side effects or method problems weekly, with sexual side effects the most prevalent symptom (Pr 0.15, 95% CI 0.13-0.16). Lack of expected bleeding was associated with higher risk of method switch (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.36, 95% CI 1.22-4.57). Risk of all-modern method discontinuation was higher among women experiencing irregular bleeding (aHR 2.39, 95% CI 1.20-4.77), weight changes (aHR 2.72, 95% CI 1.47-4.68) and sexual side effects (aHR 2.42, 95% CI 1.40-4.20). CONCLUSIONS: Addressing irregular bleeding, weight changes and sexual side effects through development of new products that minimise these specific side effects and anticipatory counseling may reduce method-related discontinuation. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Bleeding, weight changes, sexual problems associated with discontinuation of #contraception, but many continue despite side effects.

Primary cesarean section and adverse delivery outcomes among women of very advanced maternal age.

OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between primary cesarean delivery and adverse delivery outcomes with very advanced maternal age. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based cohort study including 78,880 births to mothers 25 years and older with singleton births from 2003 to 2012 using Washington State birth certificates and hospital discharge data, excluding births to women with a prior cesarean section. The primary outcome was mode of delivery. Secondary outcomes included maternal transfusion, chorioamnionitis, severe perineal lacerations and prolonged length of stay. Outcomes of births to women of advanced maternal age (35 to 39, 40 to 44) and very advanced maternal age (45 to 49, ⩾50) were compared with referent births among women aged 25 to 34 years. General linear models with a log-link function were used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULT: Proportions and risks of primary cesarean section increased with age (25 to 34 years, referent: 20.0%; 35 to 39 years: 25.9%, relative risk (RR)=1.25 (95% CI=1.20 to 1.29); 40 to 44 years: 30.9%, RR=1.45 (95% CI=1.40 to 1.50); 45 to 49 years: 35.7%, RR=1.59 (95% CI=1.45 to 1.75); and ⩾50 years: 60.7%, RR=2.44 (95% CI=1.95 to 3.05); P-trend <0.001). Associations did not differ between primiparous and multiparous women. No differences were noted for measures of maternal morbidity, except there was a trend of increasing risk of prolonged length of stay among births to older women (P-trend <0.001). CONCLUSION: Primary cesarean delivery risk continues to increase above age 35 regardless of prior vaginal birth, with the highest risk among women aged 50 years and older.

Transphyseal elbow fracture in newborn: review of literature.

Transphyseal elbow fracture is a rare entity in newborns, and in the last century, only case reports or small case series have been published; however, precise epidemiological data lack. Such fractures occur more often in emergency Caesarian section or vaginal delivery. The differential diagnosis with elbow dislocation can be challenging. Radiography, arthrography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound or a combination of these have already been described to make diagnosis, but guidelines for the management of this injury in the neonate are not well established. A review of the literature of the last century about distal transphyseal fracture of the humerus in newborns was performed. A bibliographic search was conducted accessing usual medical databases. The work-up methods, treatments, results at follow-up and the rate of complications were collected. Twenty case reports or small retrospective case series reporting a total of 33 cases were included. A posteromedial displacement of the radioulnar complex was found in 21 elbows (64 %). Four patients (12 %) underwent surgical treatment, whilst 29 (88 %) were managed without surgery. An attempt of reduction was reported in 23 cases (69 %). At follow-up, 88 % recovered completely the carrying angle and 80 % range of motion. A relationship between the type of treatment (conservative or surgical, with attempt of reduction or not) and results at follow-up could not be demonstrated. The most common complication was cubitus varus. Transphyseal elbow fractures are rare among newborns. Regardless of the treatment choice, such lesions are in most cases associated with a good prognosis.

Follow-up of collagen meniscus implants by MRI.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the follow-up of patients treated with collagen meniscus implant (CMI) and to identify MRI patterns suitable for defining its evolution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2001 and June 2003, CMI was performed on 40 patients (27 men and 13 women, age 23-58 years, median 41 years) affected by irreparable medial meniscal lesions. All patients underwent MRI follow-up at 6 months and 1 year and 16 patients 2 years after the operation; 12 patients underwent second-look arthroscopy with implant biopsy. All MRI examinations were performed with a 1.5-T unit using GE T2*, spin-echo (SE) T1, and FatSat fast spin-echo (FSE) DP and T2-weighted sequences, with different orientations. At 24 months, MR arthrography was also performed. Implant evolution was assessed on the basis of MRI direct and indirect criteria. Direct criteria were morphology and signal intensity of the collagen meniscus/residual meniscus complex. Based on these characteristics, three pattern were identified and classified from 1 to 3, where a higher score corresponded to characteristics approaching those of the normal meniscus. Indirect criteria were chondral surface and subchondral bone marrow oedema at implant site and associated synovial pathology. RESULTS: MRI follow-up at 6 months showed CMI shape and size to be normal (type 3) in 35/40 patients and type 2 in 5/40 patients. CMI signal intensity was type 1 in 32/40 patients and type 2 in 8/40. An interface between prosthetic and native meniscus was identified in 27/40 patients. Chondral lesions were present in 3/40 cases and subchondral bone marrow oedema in 8/40 cases. Reactive synovial effusion was seen in 2/40 patients. MRI follow-up at 12 months showed CMI shape and size to be normal (type 3) in 33/40 patients and type 2 in 7/40. Signal intensity was type 1 in 14/40 patients and type 2 in 26/40 patients. The interface was seen in 19/40 patients. The associated chondral lesions were unchanged, whereas subchondral bone marrow oedema was present in 3/40 patients. No synovial reaction was detected. At 24 months, CMI size was type 3 in 9/16 patients, type 2 in 6/16, and type 1 in one patient in whom the implant could not be identified, as it had been totally resorbed. CMI signal intensity was type 2 in 11/15 and type 3 in 4/16. The interface was identified in seven patients. MR arthrography depicted two additional chondral lesions and enabled correct grading of all lesions. Subchondral bone marrow oedema was present in two patients only. CONCLUSIONS: MRI enables morphological and structural changes of CMI to be monitored over time. Follow-up can be extended beyond 2 years, until the CMI has stabilised and subchondral bone marrow oedema has completely resolved. In the single case with a poor CMI outcome, no related direct or indirect signs were identified.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound with second generation contrast agent for the follow-up of lower-extremity muscle-strain-repairing processes in professional athletes.

PURPOSE: In literature, ultrasonographic potentials in traumatic muscle lesions have been codified, whereas the data about this method utility in follow-up are dissonant. The purpose of this work is to evaluate a second-generation ultrasound (US) contrast agent rule for the professional athletes' distractive lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty professional athletes (18 men and two women, aged between 18 and 34 years) affected by different muscle lesions were examined. All the patients were evaluated within 48 h of the trauma by US device Esaote Technos MPX with a high-frequency linear probe. The examinations were carried out with and without contrast agent after 20, 40 and 60 days after the trauma; second-generation contrast agent was used (SonoVue). RESULTS: In all athletes (nine first-grade lesions, 11 second-grade lesions), by using contrast agent intravenous injection done after 20 days, the appearance of contrast spots affecting part or all the lesioned area were observed. During the follow-up, after 40 days. the contrast spots widened to include the entire scar area, with haemorrhagic residual in three cases. After 60 days, in no case was a liquid haemorrhagic collection still present, and we found an important reduction of extension of vascular spots and US intensity and their total disappearance in seven cases. CONCLUSIONS: US with a second-generation contrast agent, thanks to the neoangiogenesis identification, allows recognition, individuation and monitoring the repair processes in the muscle lesion and allows estimation of when athletes can return to competitive activity. This fact obviously reduces both relapses and complications.

Optimisation of multislice computed tomography protocols in angio-CT examinations.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to explain a general procedure for the optimisation of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four angio-CT protocols with a GE LightSpeed Plus 4-slice CT scanner were considered. Effective doses were computed for a sample of patients. First the dose was optimised for arterial-phase scans on a standard patient and adapted to the weight of individual patients with a scaling factor. RESULTS: The mean effective dose for an angio-CT examination ranged from 18.8 mSv to 28.8 mSv, depending on the protocol adopted. Following the optimisation procedure, we drew up a table indicating tube current values for each patient weight. Calculation of the effective dose before and after the optimisation procedure revealed a dose reduction of about 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Angio-CT examinations deliver high doses, but these doses can be reduced without affecting image quality.

Babesiosis.

A case of human babesiosis is presented. This case emphasizes the need to consider tick-borne disease in anyone who presents with prolonged and undulating fevers, chills, headache, myalgias, and arthralgias. This holds true particularly in areas endemic for tick-borne diseases, even in the absence of a history of tick bite. These symptoms, associated with signs of intravascular hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and renal insufficiency in a patient who resides in, or with recent travel to, the Northeastern United States, strongly suggest a diagnosis of babesiosis.

Ultrasound and MRI for the long-term evaluation of surgical repair of the rotator cuffs.

About 1 year after surgery to repair the rotator cuff, a total of 20 patients (80% monotendinous injuries, 20% bitendinous injuries) were submitted to ultrasound and MRI to evaluate repair, quality of residual tissue, and to reveal any discrepancies between the two instrumental tests. The results showed that there was normal tendinous integrity in 16 cases (group A), while there were partial injuries, without evidence of complete lesion, in 4 cases (group B); tendinous thinning was evident in 10 patients (50%), while there were areas of intratendinous degeneration in 40% of the cases. The authors observed agreement between the data obtained by the two methods in 75% of cases, and emphasize the effectiveness of the two methods in postoperative evaluation of the cuff; they also confirm the tendinous dishomogeneousness observed in the patients in group B, not associated with poor clinical results, considering the absence of significant differences in the functional results between the two groups.

Condom practices of urban teens using Norplant contraceptive implants, oral contraceptives, and condoms for contraception.

OBJECTIVES: The availability of long-acting hormonal birth control methods has created new contraceptive options for adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine whether teens initiating these methods use condoms less frequently than teens using oral contraceptive pills or condoms alone and may therefore be at an increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections. STUDY DESIGN: To investigate ongoing condom behavior in teens using levonorgestrel (Norplant) contraceptive implants, oral contraceptives, and condoms alone, we examined data from a 2-year prospective cohort study of 399 urban teens. The study consisted of 3 clinic-based cohorts of adolescent female contraceptive users: Norplant contraceptive implants (n = 200), oral contraceptives (n = 100), and condoms alone (n = 99). Data were collected at an admission interview and at 1- and 2-year follow-up from method continuers. RESULTS: Norplant contraceptive implant users were less likely than oral contraceptive or condom users to report condom use at last sex or consistent condom use at 1- and 2-year follow-up. The implant group showed a significant decrease in condom use from admission to 2 years after method initiation. The proportion of implant users self-reporting new sexually transmitted infections at 2-year follow-up, however, was not significantly greater than that of oral contraceptive or condom users. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that teen users of Norplant contraceptive implants are less likely to use condoms than teens who choose oral contraceptives but, probably because of differences in sexual behavior, are no more likely to self-report sexually transmitted infections. Our findings also indicate that teens who choose oral contraceptives and condoms do not use them consistently enough to avoid pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections.

PIP: Ongoing condom behavior was examined among teens using Norplant contraceptive implants, oral contraceptives, and condoms alone. Data were examined from a 2-year prospective cohort study of 399 urban teens in San Francisco, California; 200 female adolescents used Norplant, 100 used oral contraceptives, and 99 used only condoms. Norplant users were less likely than oral contraceptive or condom users to report condom use at most recent sexual intercourse or consistent condom use at the 1- and 2-year follow-ups. However, while Norplant users had a significant decrease in condom use from admission to 2 years after method initiation, the proportion of implant users self-reporting new sexually transmitted infections at the 2-year follow-up was not significantly higher than that of oral contraceptive or condom users.

Cationic content in multiple mammary cysts.

One hundred and ninety-six breast cyst fluid samples from 78 consecutive patients with multiple cysts were subdivided according to the K+/Na+ ratio: type 1 (K+/Na+ ratio > 1) and type 2 (K+/Na+ ratio < or = 1). Cysts of the same type were found in 57.7% of patients (concordant group). Such a finding suggests that in patients bearing multiple cysts, all aspirated fluids need to be classified on the basis of their cationic composition. In the concordant group, type 1 cysts were more frequent than in the discordant group (80.3% vs 59.5%, P = 0.002). High K+/Na+ ratios (> 4.0) were present in 64% of type 1 cysts in the concordant group compared to 37.7% in the discordant group (P = 0.001), which suggests a different activity of the epithelium lining the cyst wall.

A new approach to the diagnosis of central venous catheter sepsis.

One hundred forty-four cancer patients harboring a central venous catheter (CVC) were prospectively investigated to assess the relationship between hub culture, clinical assessment of sepsis before removal, and CVC sepsis. In 22 patients, the CVC was removed because of clinical assessment of catheter sepsis expressed by the staff prior to the removal. For each CVC removal, peripheral blood (qualitative method), hub, and CVC tip (quantitative method) cultures were performed. Clinical sepsis (disappearance of fever after CVC removal) was observed in 13 patients, microbiologic "sepsis" (identification of the same microorganisms on the CVC tip and in the peripheral blood) in seven patients, and clinical and/or microbiologic sepsis in 16 patients. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the microorganism most frequently identified. Hub culture was negative in 48% and positive for a low number and a high number of colonies in 35% and 17%, respectively. The predictive value of hub culture was 96% when testing negative and 8% and 37% (p = 3 x 10(-3)) when testing positive for a low and a high number of colonies, respectively. Predictive values of clinical assessment were 55% if positive and 97% if negative. Combining hub cultures and clinical assessment, the risk of sepsis varied from 2% with both evaluations negative to 89% in the case of positive clinical assessment associated with positive high-count hub. Inasmuch as the CVCs used have a disposable hub, it is possible to have an accurate diagnosis of CVC sepsis without removing the CVC.

Accumulation of active androgens in breast cyst fluids.

80 breast cyst fluids (BCF) from 57 patients were divided by K+/Na+ ratio: 56 with ratio over 1 (type I) and 24 with ratio less than 1 (type II). Significantly higher amounts of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) were found in type I than in type II cysts. A positive relation was found between testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in both types. DHAS was significantly correlated with testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in type I casts only. In 52 patients, blood was sampled after cyst evacuation. Testosterone was significantly higher in blood than in BCF while dihydrotestosterone and androstenedione were significantly higher in BCF. No relation was observed between circulating levels of androgens and their intracystic concentrations. Women bearing type I cysts may be at increased risk of developing cancer. These findings support the hypothesis that androgens play a role in the hormonal aetiology of breast cancer.

The occurrence of cholangitis after percutaneous biliary drainage: evaluation of some risk factors.

Sepsis of the biliary tract is often reported after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and is considered a life-threatening condition. The authors studied 39 patients with biliary stenosis (35 with neoplastic stricture and four with benign disease) with the purpose of identifying some factors possibly associated with a higher risk of cholangitis. None of the patients complained of biliary sepsis at the first clinical examination. Several factors were taken into account and were statistically tested according to Miettinen rate ratios to differentiate patients in whom cholangitis would consequently develop: nature, site and extent of basic disease, type and functioning of PTBD, skin contamination at puncture site of PTBD, and bile contamination at PTBD and at follow-up. The presence of bacteria in the first bile (31.5%) was not related to a higher risk. All subjects showed bile contamination after PTBD, but cholangitis developed in only 15 patients, and it was always supported by enteric microorganisms. When we compared patients with cholangitis and subjects without infection, it was possible to demonstrate a statistically significant association of cholangitis and the following: nature of the stricture, presence of multiple intrahepatic biliary obstruction, neoplastic invasion or compression on the duodenum, and presence of Staphylococcus aureus on the skin at puncture site at drainage.