Cost-effectiveness of cervical length screening and progesterone treatment to prevent spontaneous preterm delivery in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD) in asymptomatic singleton pregnancies, using prevalence and healthcare cost data from the Swedish healthcare context. METHODS: We designed a decision analytic model based on the Swedish CERVIX study to estimate the cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent spontaneous PTD in asymptomatic women with a singleton pregnancy. The model was constructed as a combined decision-tree model and Markov model with a time horizon of 100 years. Four preventive strategies, namely 'Universal screening', 'High-risk-based screening' (i.e. screening of high-risk women only), 'Low-risk-based screening' (i.e. treatment of high-risk population and screening of remaining women) and 'Nullipara screening' (i.e. treatment of high-risk population and screening of nulliparous women only), included second-trimester cervical length (CL) screening by transvaginal ultrasound followed by vaginal progesterone treatment in the case of a short cervix. A fifth preventive strategy involved vaginal progesterone treatment of women with previous spontaneous PTD or late miscarriage but no CL screening ('No screening, treat high-risk group'). For comparison, we used a sixth strategy implying no specific intervention to prevent spontaneous PTD, reflecting the current situation in Sweden ('No screening'). Probabilities for a short cervix (CL ≤ 25 mm; base-case) and for spontaneous PTD at < 33 + 0 weeks and at 33 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks were derived from the CERVIX study, and probabilities for stillbirth, neonatal mortality and long-term morbidity (cerebral palsy) from Swedish health data registers. Costs were based on Swedish data, except costs for cerebral palsy, which were based on Danish data. We assumed that vaginal progesterone reduces spontaneous PTD before 33 weeks by 30% and spontaneous PTD at 33-36 weeks by 10% (based on the literature). All analyses were from a societal perspective. We expressed the effectiveness of each strategy as gained quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and presented cost-effectiveness as average (ACER; average cost per gained QALY compared with 'No screening') and incremental (ICER; difference in costs divided by the difference in QALYs for each of two strategies being compared) cost-effectiveness ratios. We performed deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. The results of the latter are shown as cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Willingness-to-pay was set at a maximum of 500 000 Swedish krona (56 000 US dollars (USD)), as suggested by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. RESULTS: All interventions had better health outcomes than did 'No screening', with fewer screening-year deaths and more lifetime QALYs. The best strategy in terms of improved health outcomes was 'Low-risk-based screening', irrespective of whether screening was performed at 18 + 0 to 20 + 6 weeks (Cx1) or at 21 + 0 to 23 + 6 weeks (Cx2). 'Low-risk-based screening' at Cx1 was cost-effective, while 'Low-risk-based screening' at Cx2 entailed high costs compared with other alternatives. The ACERs were 2200 USD for 'Low-risk-based screening' at Cx1 and 36 800 USD for 'Low-risk-based screening' at Cx2. Cost-effectiveness was particularly sensitive to progesterone effectiveness and to productivity loss due to sick leave during pregnancy. The probability that 'Low-risk-based screening' at Cx1 is cost-effective compared with 'No screening' was 71%. CONCLUSION: Interventions to prevent spontaneous PTD in asymptomatic women with a singleton pregnancy, including CL screening with progesterone treatment of cases with a short cervix, may be cost-effective in Sweden. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Benefit of pazopanib in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours: results from a phase II trial (SSG XXI, PAGIST).

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) resistant to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib and sunitinib may be treated with regorafenib, which resulted in a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 4.8 months in the GRID trial. Also, pazopanib, another tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (PAZOGIST) in the third line, which showed a PFS of 45.2% 4 months after study entry, but patients intolerant to sunitinib were also included. We designed another trial evaluating pazopanib, enrolling only patients with progression on both imatinib and sunitinib. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since all eligible patients had progressive disease, we preferred a non-randomized, phase II multicentre trial so that all patients could receive a potentially active drug. Patients had a progressive metastatic or locally advanced GIST and were ≥18 years of age, with a performance status of 0-2, and sufficient organ functions. The primary endpoint was disease control rate (defined as complete remission + partial remission + stable disease) at 12 weeks on pazopanib. A Simon's two-stage analysis was used with an interim analysis 12 weeks after enrollment of the first 22 patients, and if passed, there was a full enrolment of 72 patients. GIST mutational analysis was done, and most patients had pazopanib plasma concentration measured after 12 weeks. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were enrolled. The disease control rate after 12 weeks was 44%, and the median PFS was 19.6 weeks (95% confidence interval 12.6-23.4 weeks). Pazopanib-related toxicity was moderate and manageable. No statistically significant differences were found related to mutations. Plasma concentrations of pazopanib had a formal but weak correlation with outcome. CONCLUSION: Pazopanib given in the third line to patients with GIST progressing on both imatinib and sunitinib was beneficial for about half of the patients. The PAGIST trial confirms the results from the PAZOGIST trial, and the median PFS achieved seems comparable to the PFS achieved with regorafenib in the third-line setting.

Second-trimester transvaginal ultrasound measurement of cervical length for prediction of preterm birth: a blinded prospective multicentre diagnostic accuracy study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the diagnostic performance of sonographic cervical length for the prediction of preterm birth (PTB). DESIGN: Prospective observational multicentre study. SETTING: Seven Swedish ultrasound centres. SAMPLE: A cohort of 11 456 asymptomatic women with a singleton pregnancy. METHODS: Cervical length was measured with transvaginal ultrasound at 18-20 weeks of gestation (C×1) and at 21-23 weeks of gestation (C×2, optional). Staff and participants were blinded to results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), number of false-positive results per true-positive result (FP/TP), number needed to screen to detect one PTB (NNS) and prevalence of 'short' cervix. RESULTS: Spontaneous PTB (sPTB) at <33 weeks of gestation occurred in 56/11 072 (0.5%) women in the C×1 population (89% white) and in 26/6288 (0.4%) in the C×2 population (92% white). The discriminative ability of shortest endocervical length was better the earlier the sPTB occurred and was better at C×2 than at C×1 (AUC to predict sPTB at <33 weeks of gestation 0.76 versus 0.65, difference in AUC 0.11, 95% CI 0.01-0.23). At C×2, the shortest endocervical length of ≤25 mm (prevalence 4.4%) predicted sPTB at <33 weeks of gestation with sensitivity 38.5% (10/26), specificity 95.8% (5998/6262), PPV 3.6% (10/274), NPV 99.7% (5988/6014), LR+ 9.1, LR- 0.64, FP/TP 26 and NNS 629. CONCLUSIONS: Second-trimester sonographic cervical length can identify women at high risk of sPTB. In a population of mainly white women with a low prevalence of sPTB its diagnostic performance is at best moderate. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Cervical length screening to predict preterm birth in a white low-risk population has moderate performance.

Follicular lymphoma in Sweden: nationwide improved survival in the rituximab era, particularly in elderly women: a Swedish Lymphoma Registry study.

Treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL) improved with rituximab. In Sweden, first-line rituximab was gradually introduced between 2003 and 2007, with regional differences. The first national guidelines for FL were published in November 2007, recommending rituximab in first-line therapy. Using the population-based Swedish Lymphoma Registry, 2641 patients diagnosed with FL from 2000 to 2010 were identified and characterized by year and region of diagnosis, age (median, 65 years), gender (50% men), first-line therapy and clinical risk factors. Overall and relative survivals were estimated by calendar periods (2000-2002, 2003-2007 and 2008-2010) and region of diagnosis. With each period, first-line rituximab use and survival increased. Survival was superior in regions where rituximab was quickly adopted and inferior where slowly adopted. These differences were independent in multivariable analyses. Ten-year relative survival for patients diagnosed 2003-2010 was 92%, 83%, 78% and 64% in the age groups 18-49, 50-59, 60-69 and ⩾70, respectively. With increasing rituximab use, male sex emerged as an adverse factor. Survival improved in all patient categories, particularly in elderly women. The introduction and the establishment of rituximab have led to a nationwide improvement in FL survival. However, rituximab might be inadequately dosed in younger women and men of all ages.

Decreased survival of newborn neurons in the dorsal hippocampus after neonatal LPS exposure in mice.

Experimental studies show that inflammation reduces the regenerative capacity in the adult brain. Less is known about how early postnatal inflammation affects neurogenesis, stem cell proliferation, cell survival and learning and memory in young adulthood. In this study we examined if an early-life inflammatory challenge alters cell proliferation and survival in distinct anatomical regions of the hippocampus and whether learning and memory were affected. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1mg/kg) was administered to mice on postnatal day (P) 9 and proliferation and survival of hippocampal cells born either prior to (24h before LPS), or during the inflammatory insult (48 h after LPS) was evaluated. Long-term cell survival of neurons and astrocytes was determined on P 41 and P 60 in the dorsal and ventral horns of the hippocampus. On day 50 the mice were tested in the trace fear conditioning (TFC) paradigm. There was no effect on the survival of neurons and astrocytes that were born before LPS injection. In contrast, the number of neurons and astrocytes that were born after LPS injection were reduced on P 41. The LPS-induced reduction in cell numbers was specific for the dorsal hippocampus. Neither early (48 h after LPS) or late (33 days after LPS) proliferation of cells was affected by neonatal inflammation and neonatal LPS did not alter the behavior of young adult mice in the TFC test. These data highlight that neonatal inflammation specifically affects survival of dividing neurons and astrocytes, but not post-mitotic cells. The reduction in cell survival could be attributed to less cell survival in the dorsal hippocampus, but had no effect on learning and memory in the young adult.

Toll-like receptor 3 expression in glia and neurons alters in response to white matter injury in preterm infants.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are members of the pattern recognition receptor family that detect components of foreign pathogens or endogenous molecules released in response to injury. Recent studies demonstrate that TLRs also have a functional role in regulating neuronal proliferation in the developing brain. This study investigated cellular expression of TLR3 using immunohistochemistry on human brain tissue. The tissue sections analysed contained anterior and lateral periventricular white matter from the frontal and parietal lobes in post-mortem neonatal cases with a postmenstrual age range of 23.6-31.4 weeks. In addition to preterm brains without overt pathology (control), preterm pathology cases with evidence of white matter injuries (WMI) were also examined. In order to identify TLR-positive cells, we utilized standard double-labelling immunofluorescence co-labelling techniques and confocal microscopy to compare co-expression of TLR3 with a neuronal marker (NeuN) or with glial markers (GFAP for astrocytes, Iba-1 for microglia and Olig2 for oligodendrocytes). We observed an increase in the neuronal (28 vs. 17%) and astroglial (38 vs. 21%) populations in the WMI group compared to controls in the anterior regions of the periventricular white matter in the frontal lobe. The increase in neurons and astrocytes in the WMI cases was associated with an increase in TLR3 immunoreactivity. This expression was significantly increased in the astroglia. The morphology of the TLR3 signal in the control cases was globular and restricted to the perinuclear region of the neurons and astrocytes, whilst in the cases of WMI, both neuronal, axonal and astroglial TLR3 expression was more diffuse (i.e., a different intracellular distribution) and could be detected along the extensions of the processes. This study demonstrates for the first time that neurons and glial cells in human neonatal periventricular white matter express TLR3 during development. The patterns of TLR3 expression were altered in the presence of WMI, which might influence normal developmental processes within the immature brain. Identifying changes in TLR3 expression during fetal development may be key to understanding the reduced volumes of grey matter and impaired cortical development seen in preterm infants.

Impact of chemotherapy regimen and rituximab in adult Burkitt lymphoma: a retrospective population-based study from the Nordic Lymphoma Group.

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment of adult Burkitt lymphoma is not defined due to the lack of randomised trials. In this situation, population-based data may represent a useful contribution in order to identify an optimal treatment strategy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The aims of this study were to investigate the outcome for adult HIV-negative BL with different chemotherapy regimens, and to assess possible improvement within the time frame of the study. The study population was identified through the Swedish and Danish lymphoma registries 2000-2009. RESULTS: A total of 258 patients were identified. Since 2000, overall survival (OS) improved significantly only for younger patients (<65 years). Intensive regimens such as the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster, hyper-fractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (hyper-CVAD) and cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, methotrexate, ifosfamide, etoposide, and cytarabine (CODOX-M/IVAC) were associated with a favourable 2-year OS of 82%, 83%, and 69%, respectively. The low-intensive CHOP/CHOEP regimens achieved a 2-year OS of 38.8%, confirming their inadequacy for the treatment of BL. In a multivariate analysis, rituximab was not significantly associated with improved OS. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based retrospective series of adult BL, intensive chemotherapy regimens were associated with favourable outcome. The impact of the addition of rituximab remains uncertain and warrants further investigation.

Prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery in women with threatened preterm labour: a prospective cohort study of multiple proteins in maternal serum.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse whether specific proteins in maternal serum and cervical length, alone or in combination, can predict the likelihood that women with intact membranes with threatened preterm labour will deliver spontaneously within 7 days of sampling. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. POPULATION: Women at between 22 and 33 weeks of gestation with threatened preterm labour (n = 142) admitted to the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1995-2005. METHODS: Maternal serum was tested for 27 proteins using multiplex xMAP technology. Individual levels of each protein were compared, and calculations were performed to investigate potential associations between different proteins, cervical length and spontaneous preterm delivery. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find the best cut-off values for continuous variables in relation to spontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days of sampling. Prediction models were created based on a stepwise logistic regression using binary variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Spontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days. RESULTS: In order to determine the best prediction model, we analysed models of serum proteins alone, cervical length alone, and the combination of serum proteins and cervical length. We found one multivariable combined model through the data analysis that more accurately predicted spontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days. This model was based on serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, serum RANTES levels and cervical length (sensitivity 74%, specificity 87%, positive predictive value 76%, negative predictive value 86%, likelihood ratio 5.8 and area under the curve 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of maternal serum proteins and cervical length constituted the best prediction model, and would help determine whether women with threatened preterm labour are likely to deliver within 7 days of measurement.

Targeting neonatal ischemic brain injury with a pentapeptide-based irreversible caspase inhibitor.

Brain protection of the newborn remains a challenging priority and represents a totally unmet medical need. Pharmacological inhibition of caspases appears as a promising strategy for neuroprotection. In a translational perspective, we have developed a pentapeptide-based group II caspase inhibitor, TRP601/ORPHA133563, which reaches the brain, and inhibits caspases activation, mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, and apoptosis in vivo. Single administration of TRP601 protects newborn rodent brain against excitotoxicity, hypoxia-ischemia, and perinatal arterial stroke with a 6-h therapeutic time window, and has no adverse effects on physiological parameters. Safety pharmacology investigations, and toxicology studies in rodent and canine neonates, suggest that TRP601 is a lead compound for further drug development to treat ischemic brain damage in human newborns.

Prediction of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in women with preterm labour: analysis of multiple proteins in amniotic and cervical fluids.

OBJECTIVE: Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity is a major cause of preterm delivery and the diagnosis is dependent on invasive amniocentesis. The objective was to determine whether specific proteins in amniotic and cervical fluids alone, or in combination, could identify bacterial invasion. DESIGN: A prospective follow-up study. POPULATION: Women with singleton pregnancies presenting with preterm labour between 22 and 33 weeks of gestation (n = 89). SETTING: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. METHODS: Amniotic and cervical fluid was analysed with polymerase chain reaction for Mycoplasmas, and was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Twenty-seven proteins were analysed using multiplex technology. Individual levels of each protein were compared in order to find associations between different proteins and microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity. Predictive models based on multiple proteins were created using stepwise binary logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity. RESULTS: Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity was present in 17% (15/89) of the women. Concentration levels of several amniotic and cervical proteins were significantly higher in women with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity. Three multivariate predictive models were found. The predictive power of the non-invasive model (73% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 55% positive predictive value, 94% negative predictive value) was as good as the invasive models. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and likelihood ratio were 0.87 and 6.0, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prediction of intra-amniotic infection using selected cervical proteins was equally good as prediction using the same proteins collected from amniotic fluid, or a combination of cervical and amniotic proteins.

Trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in relapsed ovarian cancer: outcomes in the partially platinum-sensitive (platinum-free interval 6-12 months) subpopulation of OVA-301 phase III randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: OVA-301 is a large randomized trial that showed superiority of trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) over PLD alone in relapsed ovarian cancer. The optimal management of patients with partially platinum-sensitive relapse [6-12 months platinum-free interval (PFI)] is unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: within OVA-301, we therefore now report on the outcomes for the 214 cases in this subgroup. RESULTS: Trabectedin/PLD resulted in a 35% risk reduction of disease progression (DP) or death [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45-0.92; P = 0.0152; median progression-free survival (PFS) 7.4 versus 5.5 months], and a significant 41% decrease in the risk of death (HR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.43-0.82; P = 0.0015; median survival 23.0 versus 17.1 months). The safety of trabectedin/PLD in this subset mimicked that of the overall population. Similar proportions of patients received subsequent therapy in each arm (76% versus 77%), although patients in the trabectedin/PLD arm had a slightly lower proportion of further platinum (49% versus 55%). Importantly, patients in the trabectedin/PLD arm survived significantly longer after subsequent platinum (HR = 0.63; P = 0.0357; median 13.3 versus 9.8 months). CONCLUSION: This hypothesis-generating analysis demonstrates that superior benefits with trabectedin/PLD in terms of PFS and survival in the overall population appear particularly enhanced in patients with partially sensitive disease (PFI 6-12 months).

Trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in relapsed ovarian cancer delays third-line chemotherapy and prolongs the platinum-free interval.

BACKGROUND: OVA-301 is a large randomized trial that showed superiority of trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD; CentoCor Ortho Biotech Products L.P., Raritan, NJ, USA). over single-agent PLD in 672 patients with relapsed ovarian cancer, particularly in the partially platinum-sensitive subgroup [platinum-free interval (PFI) of 6-12 months]. This superiority has been suggested to be due to the differential impact of subsequent (platinum) therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: a detailed analysis of subsequent therapies and survival outcomes in the overall population and in the subsets according to platinum sensitivity was therefore conducted. RESULTS: similar proportions of patients received subsequent therapy in each arm (76% versus 77%), including further platinum-based regimens (49% versus 55%). Patients in the trabectedin/PLD arm received subsequent chemotherapy at a later time (median delay 2.5 months versus PLD arm). Overall survival from subsequent platinum was significantly prolonged in the partially platinum-sensitive disease subset (hazard ratio = 0.63; P = 0.0357). CONCLUSION: the superiority of trabectedin/PLD over single-agent PLD in OVA-301 cannot be explained by differences in the extent or nature of subsequent therapies administered to these patients. On the other hand, these exploratory analyses support the hypothesis that the enhanced survival benefits in the partially platinum-sensitive subset might be due to an extended PFI leading to longer survival with subsequent platinum.

Microglial MyD88 signaling regulates acute neuronal toxicity of LPS-stimulated microglia in vitro.

Although the role of microglial activation in neural injury remains controversial, there is increasing evidence for a detrimental effect in the immature brain, which may occur in response to release of neurotoxic substances including pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the signaling mechanisms involved in microglial-induced neuronal cell death are unclear. Microglia isolated from the brains of wild-type (WT) or MyD88 knockout (KO) mice were exposed to PBS or the TLR4-ligand LPS (100 ng/mL) for 2, 6, 14, or 24 h, and the microglia-conditioned medium (MCM) collected. Detection of multiple inflammatory molecules in MCM was performed using a mouse 22-plex cytokine microbead array kit. Primary neuronal cultures were supplemented with the 14 or 24 h MCM, and the degree of neuronal apoptosis examined after exposure for 24 h. Results showed a rapid and sustained elevation in multiple inflammatory mediators in the MCM of WT microglia exposed to LPS, which was largely inhibited in MyD88 KO microglia. There was a significant increase in apoptotic death measured at 24 h in cultured neurons exposed to CM from either 14 or 24 h LPS-stimulated WT microglia (p<.05 vs. WT control). By contrast, there was no increase in apoptotic death in cultured neurons exposed to CM from 14 or 24 h LPS-stimulated MyD88 KO microglia (p=.15 vs. MyD88 KO control). These data suggest that MyD88-dependent activation of microglia by LPS causes release of factors directly toxic to neurons.

Cerebellar white matter injury following systemic endotoxemia in preterm fetal sheep.

Injury to the cerebellum and brainstem is becoming increasingly recognized in prematurely born infants. The role of infection/inflammation in mediating damage to those structures in the preterm brain is largely unknown. Preterm fetal sheep (70% gestation) received either saline-vehicle (control group; n=11) or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (100 ng intravenous [i.v.]; lipopolysaccharide [LPS] group; n=9), and were allowed to recover for 3 days before sacrifice. A diffuse pattern of cerebellar white matter damage was observed in all animals exposed to LPS, while focal cerebellar white matter lesions were observed in three out of nine animals, and an intragyral white matter hemorrhage in one animal. Cerebellar white matter injury was associated with a statistically significant loss of oligodendrocyte transcription factor-2-positive oligodendrocytes and increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cell counts. Ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)-positive cells which had the morphology of activated microglia were commonly observed in areas of injury. There was no obvious injury to the cerebellar cortex or to cerebellar Purkinje cells, and no obvious injury in any region of the brainstem. These data provide support for a role of infection/inflammation in selective white matter injury in the immature cerebellum, and demonstrate a differential vulnerability of the brainstem and cerebellar white matter to injury at this time.

Acupuncture as an adjunct to standard treatment for pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women: randomised double-blinded controlled trial comparing acupuncture with non-penetrating sham acupuncture.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether acupuncture has a greater treatment effect than non-penetrating sham acupuncture in women with pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy. DESIGN: Randomised double-blinded controlled trial. SETTING: East Hospital, Gothenburg, and 25 antenatal primary care units in the region of Västra Götaland, Sweden. POPULATION: A total of 115 pregnant women with a clinical diagnosis of PGP who scored > or =50 on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). METHOD: Women were randomly allocated to standard treatment plus acupuncture or to standard treatment plus non-penetrating sham acupuncture for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measure was pain. Secondary outcomes were frequency of sick leave, functional status, discomfort of PGP, health-related quality of life and recovery of severity of PGP as assessed by the independent examiner. RESULTS: After treatment, median pain decreased from 66 to 36 in the acupuncture group and from 69 to 41 in the non-penetrating sham group (P = 0.493) as assessed on a VAS. Women in the acupuncture group were in regular work to a higher extent than women in the sham group (n = 28/57 versus 16/57, P = 0.041). The acupuncture group had superior ability to perform daily activities measured with the disability rating index (DRI) (44 versus 55, P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in quality of life, discomfort of PGP and recovery from severity of PGP between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture had no significant effect on pain or on the degree of sick leave compared with non-penetrating sham acupuncture. There was some improvement in performing daily activities according to DRI. The data imply that needle penetration contributes to a limited extent to the previously reported beneficial effects of acupuncture.

Cerebral palsy and restricted growth status at birth: population-based case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between growth status at birth and subsequent development of cerebral palsy in preterm and term infants. DESIGN: Population-based case-controlled study. SETTING: Cerebral palsy register in Western Sweden. Subjects Cohort of 334 singletons born between 1983 and 1990, with cerebral palsy diagnosed from age 4, and 668 singletons matched for gestation, gender and delivery unit. METHOD: Growth status at birth was determined using small for gestational age (SGA) categories, with customised birthweight percentiles (SGAcust) based on the Swedish population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of babies that were SGAcust, comparing cases and controls in three gestational age categories: early preterm (24-33 weeks), late preterm (34-36 weeks) and term (37+ weeks). RESULTS: Of the 334 children with cerebral palsy, 87 (26.6%) were born early preterm, 27 (8.1%) late preterm and 218 (66%) at term. Children who had been born at term were more likely to have been SGA <1st customised percentile (SGAcust1) than their matched controls (OR 6.6, 95% CI 2.3-18.6). In contrast, children with cerebral palsy born preterm were not more likely to have been SGAcust1 (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.4-1.9), and this applied to early preterm as well as late preterm births. For less severely small babies (SGA between 1st and 5th customised percentiles), the association with cerebral palsy remained significant for term births (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.7-10.1) but was again not significant for preterm births. CONCLUSIONS: Term singletons with severely SGA birthweights had a five- to seven-fold risk of developing cerebral palsy compared with gestational age-matched infants with birthweights within normal limits. For children born preterm, SGA was not more likely to be present in cases than in controls. These findings support the concept of cerebral palsy as a multifactorial condition and highlight the importance of antenatal surveillance of fetal growth.

Regression of pelvic girdle pain after delivery: follow-up of a randomised single blind controlled trial with different treatment modalities.

OBJECTIVE: An earlier publication showed that acupuncture and stabilising exercises as an adjunct to standard treatment was effective for pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy, but the post-pregnancy effects of these treatment modalities are unknown. The aim of this follow-up study was to describe regression of pelvic girdle pain after delivery in these women. DESIGN: A randomised, single blind, controlled trial. SETTING: East Hospital and 27 maternity care centres in Göteborg, Sweden. POPULATION: Some 386 pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to standard treatment plus acupuncture (n=125), standard treatment plus specific stabilising exercises (n=131) or to standard treatment alone (n=130). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale). SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURE: assessment of the severity of pelvic girdle pain by an independent examiner 12 weeks after delivery. RESULTS: Approximately three-quarters of all the women were free of pain 3 weeks after delivery. There were no differences in recovery between the 3 treatment groups. According to the detailed physical examination, pelvic girdle pain had resolved in 99% of the women 12 weeks after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that irrespective of treatment modality, regression of pelvic girdle pain occurs in the great majority of women within 12 weeks after delivery.

Should snacks be recommended in obesity treatment? A 1-year randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect to recommend no snacks vs three snacks per day on 1-year weight loss. The hypothesis was that it is easier to control energy intake and lose weight if snacks in between meals are omitted. SUBJECTS/METHOD: In total 140 patients (36 men, 104 women), aged 18-60 years and body mass index>30 kg/m(2) were randomized and 93 patients (27 men, 66 women) completed the study. A 1-year randomized intervention trial was conducted with two treatment arms with different eating frequencies; 3 meals/day (3M) or 3 meals and 3 snacks/day (3+3M). The patients received regular and individualized counseling by dieticians. Information on eating patterns, dietary intake, weight and metabolic variables was collected at baseline and after 1 year. RESULTS: Over 1 year the 3M group reported a decrease in the number of snacks whereas the 3+3M group reported an increase (-1.1 vs +0.4 snacks/day, respectively, P<0.0001). Both groups decreased energy intake and E% (energy percent) fat and increased E% protein and fiber intake but there was no differences between the groups. Both groups lost weight, but there was no significant difference in weight loss after 1 year of treatment (3M vs 3+3M=-4.1+/-6.1 vs -5.9+/-9.4 kg; P=0.31). Changes in metabolic variables did not differ between the groups, except for high-density lipoprotein that increased in the 3M group but not in 3+3M group (P<0.033 for group difference). CONCLUSION: Recommending snacks or not between meals does not influence 1-year weight loss.

Failure to complete apoptosis following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia manifests as "continuum" phenotype of cell death and occurs with multiple manifestations of mitochondrial dysfunction in rodent forebrain.

Controversy surrounds proper classification of neurodegeneration occurring acutely following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). By ultrastructural classification, in the first 24 h after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in the 7-day-old (p7) rat, the majority of striatal cells die having both apoptotic and necrotic features. There is formation of a functional apoptosome, and activation of caspases-9 and -3 occurring simultaneously with loss of structurally intact mitochondria to 34.7+/-25% and loss of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity to 34.7+/-12.7% of control levels by 3 h after hypoxia-ischemia. There is also loss of the mitochondrial motor protein, kinesin. This combination of activation of apoptosis pathways simultaneous with significant mitochondrial dysfunction may cause incomplete packaging of nuclear and cytoplasmic contents and a hybrid of necrotic and apoptotic features. Evidence for an intermediate biochemistry of cell death including expression of the 17 kDa isoform of caspase-3 in dying neurons lacking a classic apoptotic morphology and degradation of the neuronal cytoskeletal protein spectrin by caspase-3 and calcium-activated calpains yielding 120 kDa and 145/150 kDa fragments, respectively, is also found. In summary, neonatal hypoxia-ischemia triggers apoptotic cascades, and simultaneously causes mitochondrial structural and functional failure. The presence of a "continuum" phenotype of cell death that varies on a cell-by-cell basis suggests that the phenotype of cell death is dependent on the energy available to drive the apoptotic pathways to completion.