Best practices for the care of pregnant people living with TB.

BACKGROUND: Each year more than 200,000 pregnant people become sick with TB, but little is known about how to optimize their diagnosis and therapy. Although there is a need for further research in this population, it is important to recognize that much can be done to improve the services they currently receive.METHODS: Following a systematic review of the literature and the input of a global team of health professionals, a series of best practices for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of TB during pregnancy were developed.RESULTS: Best practices were developed for each of the following areas: 1) screening and diagnosis; 2) reproductive health services and family planning; 3) treatment of drug-susceptible TB; 4) treatment of rifampicin-resistant/multidrug-resistant TB; 5) compassionate infection control practices; 6) feeding considerations; 7) counseling and support; 8) treatment of TB infection/TB preventive therapy; and 9) research considerations.CONCLUSION: Effective strategies for the care of pregnant people across the TB spectrum are readily achievable and will greatly improve the lives and health of this under-served population.

Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of endometriosis.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there an association between intake of fruits and vegetables and risk of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: Higher intake of fruits, particularly citrus fruits, is associated with a lower risk of endometriosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Two case-control studies have examined the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and endometriosis risk with contrasting results. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables include higher levels of pro-vitamin A nutrients (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin) and women with endometriosis have been reported to have lower intake of vitamin A than women without endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN SIZE, DURATION: A prospective cohort study using data collected from 70 835 premenopausal women from 1991 to 2013 as part of the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Diet was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) every 4 years. Cases were restricted to laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate rate ratios (RR) and 95% CI. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: During 840 012 person-years of follow-up, 2609 incident cases of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis were reported (incidence rate = 311 per 100 000 person-years). We observed a non-linear inverse association between higher fruit consumption and risk of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis (Psignificance of the curve = 0.005). This inverse association was particularly evident for citrus fruits. Women consuming ≥1 servings of citrus fruits/day had a 22% lower endometriosis risk (95% CI = 0.69-0.89; Ptrend = 0.004) compared to those consuming <1 serving/week. No association was observed between total vegetable intake and endometriosis risk. However, women consuming ≥1 servings/day cruciferous vegetables had a 13% higher risk of endometriosis (95% CI = 0.95-1.34; Ptrend = 0.03) compared to those consuming <1 serving/week. Of the nutrients examined, only beta-cryptoxanthin intake was significantly associated with lower endometriosis risk (RR fifth quintile = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.78-1.00; Ptrend = 0.02). LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: Some error in the self-reporting of dietary intake is expected, however, use of a validated FFQ and examining diet prospectively across multiple time points, make it unlikely that this non-differential misclassification strongly influenced the results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our findings suggest that a higher intake of fruits, particularly citrus fruits, is associated with a lower risk of endometriosis, and beta-cryptoxanthin in these foods may partially explain this association. In contrast to what we hypothesized, consumption of some vegetables increased endometriosis risk which may indicate a role of gastrointestinal symptoms in both the presentation and exacerbation of endometriosis-related pain; however, it is not clear what components of these foods might underlie the observed associations. Future studies examining dietary patterns that consider different combinations of food intake may help clarify these associations. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by research grants HD4854, HD52473 and HD57210 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and grant P30 DK046200 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The Nurses' Health Study II is supported by the Public Health Service grant UM1 CA176726 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. HRH is supported by the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (K22 CA193860). No competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: n/a.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a prevalent condition in pregnancy affecting about 10% of women. Maternal depression has been associated with an increase in preterm births (PTB), low birthweight and fetal growth restriction, and postnatal complications. Available treatments for depressive disorders are psychotherapeutic interventions and antidepressant medications including selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRI use during pregnancy has been associated with several fetal and neonatal complications; so far, however, the risk of PTB in women using SSRIs during pregnancy is still a subject of debate. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of preterm birth (PTB) in cases of exposure to SSRIs during pregnancy. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched from their inception until May 2015 with the use of a combination of the following text words 'depression', 'pregnancy', 'exposure', 'antidepressant', 'SSRI', 'selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor', 'preterm birth', 'small for gestational age' and 'prematurity'. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included studies evaluating the effect of SSRIs exposure in utero and pregnancy outcomes. All cohort and case-control studies were eligible to be included if they reported the incidence of PTB after any exposure to SSRIs and had a comparison group of unexposed pregnant women. Studies without a control group were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The primary outcome was the incidence of PTB <37 weeks. Subgroup analysis of studies in which controls were defined as women with depression but without SSRI exposure during pregnancy were planned. MAIN RESULTS: Eight studies (1 237 669 women) were included: 93 982 in the exposure group and 1 143 687 in the control group. After adjusting for confounders, the incidence of PTB was significantly higher in the group of women treated with SSRIs compared with controls (i.e. both women with depression but without SSRI exposure and women without depression) (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.24, 95% CI 1.09-1.41). In the subgroup analysis of studies in which controls were defined as women with depression but without SSRI exposure during pregnancy, an increased risk of PTB (6.8 versus 5.8%; OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.25) in the SSRI group was found compared with controls (i.e. depressed women treated with psychotherapy alone). CONCLUSIONS: Women who received SSRIs during pregnancy had a significantly higher risk of developing PTB compared with controls. This higher risk remained significant even when comparing depressed women on SSRI with women not on SSRI. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be associated with preterm birth.

Silent Spontaneous Uterine Rupture at 36 Weeks of Gestation.

Introduction. Silent spontaneous rupture of the uterus before term, with extrusion of an intact amniotic sac and delivery of a healthy neonate, with no maternal or neonatal morbidity or mortality is very rare. Very few cases have been reported in literature. Case Presentation. We report a case of silent spontaneous uterine rupture, found during a scheduled repeat cesarean section at 36 weeks of gestation. Patient had history of two prior classical cesarean sections. She underwent cesarean section, with delivery of a healthy male infant. She had a good postoperative recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 3. Conclusion. Silent spontaneous rupture of the uterus before term with extrusion of an intact amniotic sac is rare. A high index of suspicion and good imaging during pregnancy are important in making this diagnosis.

Resumption of vaginal intercourse in the early postpartum period: determinants and considerations for child spacing in a Nigerian population.

A total of 860 mothers were interviewed during their first postnatal clinic visit to determine the factors that influenced their resumption of sexual intercourse as well as their family planning practices in the early postpartum period. Some 255 (29.7%) women had resumed sexual intercourse with a mean delivery - resumption interval of 5.4 ± 2.6 weeks. Resumption of menses and HIV-negative status were the factors most significantly associated with resumption of sexual intercourse. Other significant determinants were urban residence and vaginal delivery without tears. Only 21.5% of the sexually active mothers used a modern contraceptive in the form of a male condom, while 56.9% did not consider contraception at all. The major reason for prolonged abstinence was fear of another pregnancy. In this group of women, child spacing appears to be the major consideration for resumption of coitus, even over the fear of painful discomfort.

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) use among adolescent females in secondary institutions in Nnewi, Nigeria.

In recent times, long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) use among adolescent girls has received a great deal of attention in developed countries. However, in some developing countries like Nigeria, it has received little attention, despite the fact that unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions are high among adolescents. This paper presents the findings of a study conducted among 243 adolescent girls aged 10-19 years in 12 secondary schools in Nnewi, Nigeria. Of these, 81 (34.5%) were sexually active; 42 (17.9%) have heard of LARC and 25 (10.6%) have used LARC. The most common source of information about contraception was from friends (47.6%), while religious (25.7%) and cultural (21.4%) beliefs were the most common reasons for non-use of LARC. The acceptability rate for LARCs was high (95.8%). The authors argue that reproductive health services should focus on the delivery of adequate and accurate information on user-independent contraceptives to improve use among adolescent girls.