The Impact of Routine Transvaginal Ultrasound Measurement of the Cervical Length on the Prediction of Preterm Birth: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Hospital.

Preterm birth (PTB) is a major obstetric problem associated with high rates of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of PTB has not changed in the last decade; thus, the establishment of a screening test and effective treatment are warranted. Transvaginal ultrasound measurement of the cervical length (TUCL) has been proposed as an effective method to screen pregnant women at a higher risk of experiencing PTB. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the applicability and usefulness of second-trimester TUCL to predict PTB in a cohort of Portuguese pregnant women. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional cohort study including all singleton pregnant women who performed their second-trimester ultrasound (between weeks 18 and 22 + 6 days) from January 2013 to October 2017 at Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João. RESULTS: Our cohort included 4,481 women. The prevalence of spontaneous PTB was of 4.0%, with 0.7% occurring before the 34th week of gestation. The mean TUCL was of 33.8 mm, and percentiles 3, 5 and 10 corresponded to TUCLs of 25.0 mm, 27.0 mm and 29.0 mm respectively. The multiple logistic regression analysis, including maternal age, previous PTB and cervical surgery showed a significant negative association between TUCL and PTB, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.90-0.95; p < 0.001). The use of a TUCL of 20 mm is the best cut-off, when compared with the 25-mm cut-off, improving the prediction of risk. CONCLUSION: The present study showed an inverse association between TUCL and PTB, and that the inclusion of other risk factors like maternal age, previous PTB and cervical surgery can improve the screening algorithm. Furthermore, it emphasizes that the TUCL cut-off that defines short cervix can differ according to the population.

O parto pré-termo (PPT) é uma grande complicação obstétrica que se associa a elevadas taxas de morbimortalidade neonatal. A sua prevalência não tem alterado na última década, sendo esencial determinar uma forma de rastreio e tratamento eficaz. A medição ecográfica transvaginal do comprimento cervical tem sido proposta como um método eficaz de rastreio das grávidas com risco aumentado de PPT. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a aplicabilidade e utilidade da medição ecográfica transvaginal do comprimento cervical na previsão de PPT numa amostra de grávidas portuguesas. MéTODO: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo todas as grávidas com gestação unifetal que realizaram ecografia do 2° trimestre (de 18 a 22semanas + 6 dias) no Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João entre janeiro de 2013 e outubro de 2017. RESULTADOS: A nossa amostra incluiu 4.481 mulheres. A prevalência de PPT espontâneo foi de 4,0%, sendo que 0,7% ocorreu antes das 34 semanas de gestação. A média do comprimento cervical por ecografia transvaginal foi 33,8 mm, e os percentis 3, 5 e 10 da amostra corresponderam a comprimentos cervicais de 25,0 mm, 27,0 mm e 29,0 mm, respetivamente. A regressão logística múltipla, que incluiu a idade materna, PPT anterior e antecedentes de conização, demonstrou uma associação estatisticamente significativa entre o comprimento cervical e o risco de PPT, com um risco relativo de 0,92 (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 0.90­0.95; p < 0.001). A utilização de um valor de referência de comprimento cervical de 20 mm, quando comparado com o valor de referência de 25 mm, melhora a previsão do risco de PPT. CONCLUSãO: Este estudo demostra uma associação entre o comprimento cervical avaliado por ecografia tranasvaginal e o risco de PPT, e salienta que a inclusão de outros fatores de risco, como idade materna, PPT anterior e antecedentes de conização podem melhorar o algoritmo de rastreio. Realça ainda que o valor de comprimento cervical utilizado para definir "colo curto" varia de acordo com a população em estudo.

The impact of routine transvaginal ultrasound measurement of the cervical length on the prediction of preterm birth: A retrospective study in a tertiary hospital / O impacto da medição por rotina do comprimento cervical por ecografia transvaginal na predição de parto pré-termo: Um estudo retrospetivo num hospital terciário

Abstract Pretermbirth (PTB) is a major obstetric problem associated with high rates of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of PTB has not changed in the last decade; thus, the establishment of a screening test and effective treatment are warranted. Transvaginal ultrasoundmeasurement of the cervical length (TUCL) has been proposed as an effective method to screen pregnant women at a higher risk of experiencing PTB. Objective To evaluate the applicability and usefulness of second-trimester TUCL to predict PTB in a cohort of Portuguese pregnant women. Methods Retrospective cross-sectional cohort study including all singleton pregnant women who performed their second-trimester ultrasound (between weeks 18 and 22þ6 days) from January 2013 to October 2017 at Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João. Results Our cohort included 4,481 women. The prevalence of spontaneous PTB was of 4.0%, with 0.7% occurring before the 34th week of gestation. The mean TUCL was of 33.8mm,and percentiles 3, 5 and 10 corresponded toTUCLs of 25.0mm, 27.0mmand 29.0mmrespectively. The multiple logistic regression analysis, including maternal age, previous PTB and cervical surgery showed a significant negative association between TUCL and PTB, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.90-0.95; p<0.001). The use of a TUCL of 20mm is the best cut-off, when compared with the 25-mm cut-off, improving the prediction of risk. Conclusion The present study showed an inverse association between TUCL and PTB, and that the inclusion of other risk factors like maternal age, previous PTB and cervical surgery can improve the screening algorithm. Furthermore, it emphasizes that the TUCL cut-off that defines short cervix can differ according to the population.

Resumo O parto pré-termo (PPT) é uma grande complicação obstétrica que se associa a elevadas taxas de morbimortalidade neonatal. A sua prevalência não tem alterado na última década, sendo esencial determinar uma forma de rastreio e tratamento eficaz. A medição ecográfica transvaginal do comprimento cervical tem sido proposta como um método eficaz de rastreio das grávidas com risco aumentado de PPT. Objetivo Avaliar a aplicabilidade e utilidade da medição ecográfica transvaginal do comprimento cervical na previsão de PPT numa amostra de grávidas portuguesas. Método Estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo todas as grávidas com gestação unifetal que realizaram ecografia do 2° trimestre (de 18 a 22semanasþ6 dias) no Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João entre janeiro de 2013 e outubro de 2017. Resultados A nossa amostra incluiu 4.481 mulheres. A prevalência de PPT espontâneo foi de 4,0%, sendo que 0,7% ocorreu antes das 34 semanas de gestação. A média do comprimento cervical por ecografia transvaginal foi 33,8mm, e os percentis 3, 5 e 10 da amostra corresponderam a comprimentos cervicais de 25,0mm, 27,0mm e 29,0mm, respetivamente. A regressão logística múltipla, que incluiu a idade materna, PPT anterior e antecedentes de conização, demonstrou uma associação estatisticamente significativa entre o comprimento cervical e o risco de PPT, com um risco relativo de 0,92 (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 0.90-0.95; p<0.001). A utilização de um valor de referência de comprimento cervical de 20mm, quando comparado com o valor de referência de 25 mm, melhora a previsão do risco de PPT. Conclusão Este estudo demostra uma associação entre o comprimento cervical avaliado por ecografia tranasvaginal e o risco de PPT, e salienta que a inclusão de outros fatores de risco, como idade materna, PPT anterior e antecedentes de conização podem melhorar o algoritmo de rastreio. Realça ainda que o valor de comprimento cervical utilizado para definir "colo curto" varia de acordo com a população em estudo.

Correlating catalytic activity of Ag-Au nanoparticles with 3D compositional variations.

Significant elemental segregation is shown to exist within individual hollow silver-gold (Ag-Au) bimetallic nanoparticles obtained from the galvanic reaction between Ag particles and AuCl4(-). Three-dimensional compositional mapping using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) tomography within the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) reveals that nanoparticle surface segregation inverts from Au-rich to Ag-rich as Au content increases. Maximum Au surface coverage was observed for nanoparticles with approximately 25 atom % Au, which correlates to the optimal catalytic performance in a three-component coupling reaction among cyclohexane carboxyaldehyde, piperidine, and phenylacetylene.

Investigating the influence of the interface in thiol-functionalized silver-gold nanoshells over lipase activity.

We employed thiol-funcionalized AgAu nanoshells (AgAu NSs) as supports for the covalent attachment of lipases (BCL, Burkholderia cepacia lipase; PPL, pancreatic porcine lipase). Specifically, we were interested in investigating the effect of the nature/size of the spacer in AgAu NSs-functionalized organic thiols over the covalent attachment of lipases. The catalytic performance of AgAu-lipase systems was measured in the kinetic resolution of (R,S)-1-(phenyl)ethanol via a transesterification reaction. In comparison to free BCL, the lipase attached to AgAu NSs using a small spacer such as cysteamine or mercaptoacetic acid, with the largest spacer mercaptoundecanoic acid, had the fastest conversion rate. The recycling potential for BCL was investigated. After three reaction cycles, the enzyme activity was kept at around 90% of the initial value. The results described herein show that the size of the spacer plays an important role in optimizing lipase activities in metallic nanoshells as solid supports.

A one-pot glycerol-based additive-blended ethyl biodiesel production: a green process.

N-methyl-2-pyrrolidonium methyl sulfonate, a Brønsted acid ionic liquid, promoted the transesterification of soybean oil with ethanol giving a high quality fatty acid ethyl ester. At the end of the reaction, after distillation of excess of ethanol, spontaneous phase separation took place. While the clear upper phase corresponded to the ethyl ester, the lower phase was composed of a mixture of glycerol byproduct and the catalyst. By addition of a stoichiometric amount of appropriated reagents to the resulting mixture, a new ionic liquid-catalyzed process allows the conversion of the glycerol into less polar derivatives, and consequent migration to the ethyl esters phase. This work demonstrated that emulsion, phase separation and contamination problems were completely avoided and the glycerol could be incorporated into the biodiesel as additives in a single step. The whole process involves two renewable starting materials, ethanol and vegetable oil, allowing a total green additive-blended biodiesel production process.

Antioxidant effect of functionalized alkyl-organotellurides: a study in vitro.

We evaluated the in vitro antioxidant effect of alkyl-organotellurides A-D on lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation in rat liver homogenates. The thiol oxidase and thiol peroxidase-like activities of compounds were investigated. delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) activity was determined in rat liver homogenates. Compounds A-D protected against lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+)/EDTA and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). According to the confidence limits of the IC(50) values of compounds A-D, the IC(50) values for organotellurides followed the order: C (0.30 microM) < or = B (0.40 microM) < D (0.68 microM) < A (2.90 microM), for Fe(2+)/EDTA, and B (0.21 microM) < or = C (0.33 microM) < or = D (0.43 microM) < A (1.21 microM) for SNP-induced lipid peroxidation. Compounds A-D reduced protein carbonyl content to control levels. The results demonstrated an inverse correlation between thiol oxidase and delta-ALA-D activities. This study supports an antioxidant effect of organotellurides A-D on rat liver.

2-Cyclo-hexyl-4-methyl-tetra-hydro-pyran-4-ol.

In the title compound, C(12)H(22)O(2), the 4-methyl-tetra-hydro-pyran-4-ol ring adopts a conformation close to that of a chair and with the two O atoms syn; the cyclo-hexyl group occupies an equatorial position and adopts a chair conformation. In the crystal packing, supra-molecular chains along the b axis are sustained by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. These are connected into undulating layers in the ab plane by C-H⋯O inter-actions.

Response of Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to 1, 4-dimethoxybenzene and analogs in common bean crop

Several synthetic and commercial analogs of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, a kairomone of Diabrotica speciosa, along with other compounds already shown to be attractive to other species of Diabrotica, were tested as attractant to D. speciosa. Yellow cup traps were lured with the compounds and installed in a common bean field. Assessments were conducted 24 h later. 1,4-dimethoxybenzene lured traps caught significantly more beetles than the control traps. Captures of traps lured with 1,4-dimethoxybenzene analogs did not differ from the control traps. Results showed that position and nature of the substituents on the aromatic ring played a crucial role in the activity of the natural compound. The aromatic ring was also very important to the activity of the kairomone.

Uma série de compostos, sintéticos e comerciais, análogos ao 1,4-dimetoxibenzeno, um cairomônio de Diabrotica speciosa, juntamente com outros compostos comerciais atrativos para outras espécies de Diabrotica, tiveram suas atividades testadas frente à D. speciosa. Armadilhas de copos amarelos contendo os compostos foram instaladas em plantação de feijão. As avaliações foram realizadas 24 horas depois. Armadilhas com 1,4-dimetoxibenzeno capturaram significativamente mais insetos do que armadilhas testemunha. Armadilhas com análogos do 1,4-dimetoxibenzeno não capturaram mais insetos que as armadilhas testemunha. Os resultados mostraram que a posição e a natureza dos substituintes, juntamente com a aromaticidade verificada na estrutura do composto natural, são cruciais para a atratividade.