The sonopartogram.

The assessment of labor progress from digital vaginal examination has remained largely unchanged for at least a century, despite the current major advances in maternal and perinatal care. Although inconsistently reproducible, the findings from digital vaginal examination are customarily plotted manually on a partogram, which is composed of a graphical representation of labor, together with maternal and fetal observations. The partogram has been developed to aid recognition of failure to labor progress and guide management-specific obstetrical intervention. In the last decade, the use of ultrasound in the delivery room has increased with the advent of more powerful, portable ultrasound machines that have become more readily available for use. Although ultrasound in intrapartum practice is predominantly used for acute management, an ultrasound-based partogram, a sonopartogram, might represent an objective tool for the graphical representation of labor. Demonstrating greater accuracy for fetal head position and more objectivity in the assessment of fetal head station, it could be considered complementary to traditional clinical assessment. The development of the sonopartogram concept would require further undertaking of serial measurements. Advocates of ultrasound will concede that its use has yet to demonstrate a difference in obstetrical and neonatal morbidity in the context of the management of labor and delivery. Taking a step beyond the descriptive graphical representation of labor progress is the question of whether a specific combination of clinical and demographic parameters might be used to inform knowledge of labor outcomes. Intrapartum cesarean deliveries and deliveries assisted by forceps and vacuum are all associated with a heightened risk of maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes. Although these outcomes cannot be precisely predicted, many known risk factors exist. Malposition and high station of the fetal head, short maternal stature, and other factors, such as caput succedaneum, are all implicated in operative delivery; however, the contribution of individual parameters based on clinical and ultrasound assessments has not been quantified. Individualized risk prediction models, including maternal characteristics and ultrasound findings, are increasingly used in women's health-for example, in preeclampsia or trisomy screening. Similarly, intrapartum cesarean delivery models have been developed with good prognostic ability in specifically selected populations. For intrapartum ultrasound to be of prognostic value, robust, externally validated prediction models for labor outcome would inform delivery management and allow shared decision-making with parents.

ETCNN: Extra Tree and Convolutional Neural Network-based Ensemble Model for COVID-19 Tweets Sentiment Classification.

Pandemics influence people negatively and people experience fear and disappointment. With the global outspread of COVID-19, the sentiments of the general public are substantially influenced, and analyzing their sentiments could help to devise corresponding policies to alleviate negative sentiments. Often the data collected from social media platforms is unstructured leading to low classification accuracy. This study brings forward an ensemble model where the benefits of handcrafted features and automatic feature extraction are combined by machine learning and deep learning models. Unstructured data is obtained, preprocessed, and annotated using TextBlob and VADER before training machine learning models. Similarly, the efficiency of Word2Vec, TF, and TF-IDF features is also analyzed. Results reveal the better performance of the extra tree classifier when trained with TF-IDF features from TextBlob annotated data. Overall, machine learning models perform better with TF-IDF and TextBlob. The proposed model obtains superior performance using both annotation techniques with 0.97 and 0.95 scores of accuracy using TextBlob and VADER respectively with Word2Vec features. Results reveal that use of machine learning and deep learning models together with a voting criterion tends to yield better results than other machine learning models. Analysis of sentiments indicates that predominantly people possess negative sentiments regarding COVID-19.

Facilitators and barriers to the regulation of medical cannabis: a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, several political, legislative, judicial, consumer, and commercial processes around the world have advanced legalization efforts for the use of medical cannabis (MC). As the use of MC evolves through legislative reform, with an increase in public acceptance and therapeutic potential, a need exists to further investigate the facilitators and barriers to MC regulation. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to identify the facilitators and barriers associated with the implementation of MC regulations. MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched; no restrictions were placed on geographic location/jurisdiction. Eligible articles included those that evaluated the MC regulatory framework of one or more countries. RESULTS: Twenty-two articles were deemed eligible and included in this review. Themes identified include: (1) effects of conflicts, mindset, and ideology of state population, (2) the use of comparisons to analyze MC regulation, and (3) the need for more knowledge, advice, and empirical/clinical evidence to inform future MC policies. CONCLUSION: Policymakers should be aware of facilitators to the MC regulation implementation process, such as the influence of state and federal congruence, increased transparency, and the incorporation of stakeholder concerns, in order to effectively respond to a growing societal acceptance of MC and its use among patients. Given a comprehensive understanding of these influential factors, policymakers may be better equipped to meet the consumer and commercial demands of a rapidly evolving MC regulatory environment.

Efficiency aware scheduling techniques in cloud computing: a descriptive literature review.

In the last decade, cloud computing becomes the most demanding platform to resolve issues and manage requests across the Internet. Cloud computing takes along terrific opportunities to run cost-effective scientific workflows without the requirement of possessing any set-up for customers. It makes available virtually unlimited resources that can be attained, organized, and used as required. Resource scheduling plays a fundamental role in the well-organized allocation of resources to every task in the cloud environment. However along with these gains many challenges are required to be considered to propose an efficient scheduling algorithm. An efficient Scheduling algorithm must enhance the implementation of goals like scheduling cost, load balancing, makespan time, security awareness, energy consumption, reliability, service level agreement maintenance, etc. To achieve the aforementioned goals many state-of-the-art scheduling techniques have been proposed based upon hybrid, heuristic, and meta-heuristic approaches. This work reviewed existing algorithms from the perspective of the scheduling objective and strategies. We conduct a comparative analysis of existing strategies along with the outcomes they provide. We highlight the drawbacks for insight into further research and open challenges. The findings aid researchers by providing a roadmap to propose efficient scheduling algorithms.

Attitudes toward medical cannabis among family physicians practising in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative research study.

BACKGROUND: Medical cannabis has been legally available in Canada since 2001, but its benefits and harms remain uncertain. We explored attitudes toward medical cannabis among family physicians practising in Ontario. METHODS: Between January and October 2019, we conducted a qualitative study of Ontario family physicians using semistructured telephone interviews. We applied thematic analysis to interview transcripts and identified representative quotes. RESULTS: Eleven physicians agreed to be interviewed, and 3 themes regarding medical cannabis emerged: reluctance to authorize use, concern over harms and lack of practical knowledge. Participants raised concerns about the limited evidence for, and their lack of education regarding, the therapeutic use of cannabis, particularly the harms associated with neurocognitive development, exacerbation of mental illness and drug interactions in older adults. Some participants thought medical cannabis was overly accessible and questioned their role following legalization of recreational cannabis. INTERPRETATION: Despite the increasing availability of medical cannabis, family physicians expressed reluctance to authorize its use because of lack of knowledge and concerns regarding harms. Family physicians may benefit from guidance and education that address concerns they have surrounding medical cannabis.

The current status of anti-GPCR drugs against different cancers.

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have emerged as the most potential target for a number of drug discovery programs ranging from control of blood pressure, diabetes, cure for genetic diseases to treatment of cancer. A panel of different ligands including hormones, peptides, ions and small molecules is responsible for activation of these receptors. Molecular genetics has identified key GPCRs, whose mutations or altered expressions are linked with tumorgenicity. In this review, we discussed recent advances regarding the involvement of GPCRs in the development of cancers and approaches to manipulating the mechanism behind GPCRs involved tumor growth and metastasis to treat different types of human cancer. This review provides an insight into the current scenario of GPCR-targeted therapy, progress to date and the challenges in the development of anticancer drugs.

The current status of anti-GPCR drugs against different cancers / 药物分析学报

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have emerged as the most potential target for a number of drug discovery programs ranging from control of blood pressure, diabetes, cure for genetic diseases to treatment of cancer. A panel of different ligands including hormones, peptides, ions and small molecules is responsible for activation of these receptors. Molecular genetics has identified key GPCRs, whose mutations or altered expressions are linked with tumorgenicity. In this review, we discussed recent advances regarding the involvement of GPCRs in the development of cancers and approaches to manipulating the mechanism behind GPCRs involved tumor growth and metastasis to treat different types of human cancer. This review provides an insight into the current scenario of GPCR-targeted therapy, progress to date and the challenges in the development of anticancer drugs.

Time to delivery based on sonographic assessment prior to forceps and vacuum.

INTRODUCTION: To compare the duration of vacuum and forceps delivery in relation to ultrasound assessment of fetal head position and station. METHODS: A prospective single-centre cohort study in nulliparous women at term with prolonged second stage of labour. Fetal head position was determined using transabdominal ultrasound and station as head-perineum distance (HPD) from transperineal ultrasound prior to an instrument. The primary outcome was duration of vacuum and forceps to vaginal delivery and was analysed as survival expressed by hazard ratio (HR). Secondary outcomes were delivery mode and immediate neonatal outcome. RESULTS: In the study population of 54 women, the primary instrument was vacuum for 36 and forceps for 18. Four women were delivered by Caesarean section. Estimated median duration for forceps deliveries was 5 min (95% CI 4.0-6.0) vs. 9 min (95% CI 7.3-10.6) for vacuum deliveries (P = 0.17; Log-rank test). The HR for vaginal delivery was 2.02 (95% CI 1.04-3.91, P = 0.038) after adjusting for HPD, maternal age and BMI. OP position had minor influence on the primary outcome (HR changed from 2.02 to 2.08). The first instrument failed in 11/31 (35.5%) where HPD > 35 mm vs. 2/21 (9.5%) where HPD ≤ 35 mm (P < 0.05). There were no cases of Apgar score <7 at 5 min or umbilical artery pH < 7.1. CONCLUSION: In prolonged second stage, delivery with forceps was achieved more quickly than by vacuum when matched for ultrasound determined head station. Irrespective of which was the primary instrument, the failure rate was greater at higher head stations.

The views of pregnant women, midwives, and a women's panel on intrapartum ultrasound research: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound is increasingly used in labour; however, little data exist on attitudes to its use. We sought to analyse and compare the views of pregnant women, midwives, and a women's panel on the value and use of ultrasound in labour. METHODS: Focus groups involving a short presentation on ultrasound, questionnaire, and a question and answer session were held with groups of pregnant women, midwives at 2 inner-city maternity units, and a RCOG online Women's Panel. Data were collected on attitudes to vaginal examination, ultrasound, predicting Caesarean section, and the utility of a digital representation of labour. RESULTS: Twenty one midwives and 29 service users (19 pregnant women and 10 women's panel members) participated. Significantly more service users saw positive value in intrapartum ultrasound (P = 0.0005) and predicting Caesarean section (P = 0.03) than midwives. The majority of both groups - 72% (20/29) and 62% (13/21), respectively - thought women would want a digital representation of their labour, with the most popular format being on a mobile phone (56%, 20/36). CONCLUSIONS: Service users were most and midwives least positive about ultrasound versus vaginal examination, indicating divergence between midwives' perspective of women's need to understand risk and desire to know about their labour. Women found the non-intrusive nature and accuracy of ultrasound valuable while midwives were concerned about de-skilling and medicalisation of birth. All groups felt a graphical representation of labour on a device would be helpful.

Ultrasound is better tolerated than vaginal examination in and before labour.

BACKGROUND: Intrapartum ultrasound has been proposed as a method of assessing labour progress but its acceptability has not been comprehensively assessed. AIMS: We evaluated the acceptability of intrapartum ultrasound in women having vaginal examination (VE) and ultrasound (US) assessment (transabdominal (TA) and transperineal (TP)) prior to delivery, with and without regional analgesia (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women at 24-42 weeks gestation were included in a prospective observational cohort study. The acceptability of digital VE and TP US were assessed pre- and post-examination using the modified validated Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire. Acceptability scores ranged 6-36 (6 being most and 36 being least positive) in six domains: positive-trust and relax, negative-harmful to baby, worrying, painful, intrusive. RESULTS: Of 119 women recruited, 104 completed both pre- and post-assessment questionnaires. Eighty-nine per cent of women were nulliparous with median gestation 40 + 2 weeks (25-42+1 ). Thirty-two per cent had RA before assessment, 91% in total. The combined acceptability scores of both negative and positive experiences (6 = most acceptable, 36 = least acceptable) for VE and US pre-assessment were 15 and 7 respectively (P < 0.0001: Mann-Whitney U-test). VE was associated with less positive / more negative domain scoring post-assessment 12 and 6, respectively (P < 0.0001). Although RA made no difference to the perceived experience pre-VE (P = 0.9), post-VE, women with RAs considered VEs more acceptable than those without RA (P = 0.0022). CONCLUSION(S): This is the first study to comprehensively assess the acceptability of VE and intrapartum US. US assessment prior to delivery is more acceptable than VE. RA ameliorated the negative experience of the VE post-assessment.

Expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 Genes in Interferon-Treated and Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs-Treated Hepatitis C Patients.

Genetics of host plays a significant role in susceptibility and pathogenesis of disease. During hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HCV proteins interfere with interferon (IFN) signaling pathways and upregulate transcription of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 and 3 genes (SOCS1 and SOCS3), which results in impaired immune response. In this study, we evaluated relative expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in untreated HCV patients and patients treated with 2 different treatment strategies that are, (IFN therapy and direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drug regimen. To study gene expression, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by using Histopaque. Total RNA was extracted from PBMCs by using BIOzol. Nine microgram of total RNA from each sample was used and reverse transcribed into single-stranded complementary DNA (cDNA) by using M-MLV reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen). The synthesized cDNA was diluted to a final concentration of 500 ng/µL. This diluted cDNA was further used for expression analysis of SOCS1and SOCS3 genes using Rotor Gene Q Real-Time PCR Detection System (QIAGEN). Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was amplified as a housekeeping gene. We found that the SOCS1 expression in IFN and DAA-treated patient groups was 5.4 fold and 1.2 fold, respectively, high compared with the healthy controls (IFN versus healthy, P = 0.019 and DAA versus healthy, P = 0.91), whereas the SOCS3 expression in IFN and DAA-treated patient groups was 3.7 fold and 2 fold, respectively, high in comparison with the expression in healthy controls (IFN versus healthy, P = 0.025 and DAA versus healthy, P = 0.03). We also found a significant difference in the relative expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in DAAs-treated and IFN/ribavirin (RBV)-treated and untreated individual. We concluded that by targeting HCV proteins with DAAs, SOCS1, and SOCS3 transcription can be more effectively normalized compared to the treatment with IFN/RBV therapy.

Fetal rotation during vacuum extractions for prolonged labor: a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to investigate fetal head rotation during vacuum extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study from November 2013 to July 2016 in seven European hospitals. Fetal head position was determined with transabdominal or transperineal ultrasound and categorized as occiput anterior (OA), occiput transverse (OT) or occiput posterior (OP) position. Main outcome was the proportion of fetuses rotating during vacuum extraction. Secondary outcomes were conversion of delivery method, duration of vacuum extraction, umbilical artery pH <7.10 and agreement between clinical and ultrasound assessments. RESULTS: The study population comprised 165 women. During vacuum extraction 117/119 (98%) remained in OA and two fetuses rotated to OP position. Rotation from OT to OA position occurred in 14/19 (74%) and to OP position in 5/19 (26%). Rotation from OP to OA position occurred in 15/25 (60%), and 10/25 (40%) fetuses remained in OP position. Delivery information was missing in two cases. The conversion rate from vacuum extraction to cesarean section or forceps was 10% in the OA group vs. 23% in the non-OA group; p < 0.05. The estimated duration of vacuum extraction was significantly shorter in OA fetuses, 7 min vs. 10 min (log rank test p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in umbilical artery pH < 7.10 between OA and non-OA position. Cohens Kappa of agreement between clinical and ultrasound assessments was 0.42 (95% CI 0.26-0.57). CONCLUSION: Most fetuses in OP or OT positions rotated to OA position during vacuum extraction, but the proportion of failed vacuum extractions remained high.

Unexpected Response Profiles Seen in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Patients Treated with Sofosbuvir Plus Ribavirin: Five Case Reports.

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been proved as potent agents in the new era of Hepatitis C therapeutics. DAA has evolved to prove highly efficacious treatment rates and sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-treated patients and has shown minimal side effects, but in this study, we reported five cases that showed unusual response toward the use of DAA. The diagnosis was an unusual response of abruptly high viral titers and liver function tests (LFTs) in patients who received DAA combination therapy. The patients received sofosbuvir (400 mg) and ribavirin for 6 months. Although 6-month long recommended DAA combination therapy with ribavirin cleared HCV after 6 months, during the treatment period, five patients experienced unusually and unexpectedly high viral loads and LFTs level in the middle of therapy tenure and then sudden decline of viral titers after completion of treatment. This is the first study to describe the unusual response shown by patients treated with sofosbuvir-based combined therapy that experienced abrupt and marked rise in viral loads during the initial months of treatment followed by sudden elimination of virus during last 2 months of treatment. Although satisfactory response to DAA is well reported, clinicians and policy makers should deliberate upon the exceptions and ensure the proper implementation of International guidelines with modifications according to this population, if necessary.

Therapeutic Strategies of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats-Cas Systems for Different Viral Infections.

The clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas systems have rapidly transitioned from intriguing prokaryotic defense systems to an efficient therapeutic tool. This cutting-edge technology is currently revolutionizing to combat hostile viruses because of its reproducibility, high potency, ease of use, limited off-target activity, and development of quick immune response against viruses. CRISPR gene editing technology eliminates the virus by breaking the DNA that ultimately halts viral replication. This review summarizes the advancements that have been made in the use of CRISPR-Cas technology in viral therapeutics.

Sonographic prediction of outcome of vacuum deliveries: a multicenter, prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Safe management of the second stage of labor is of great importance. Unnecessary interventions should be avoided and correct timing of interventions should be focused. Ultrasound assessment of fetal position and station has a potential to improve the precision in diagnosing and managing prolonged or arrested labors. The decision to perform vacuum delivery is traditionally based on subjective assessment by digital vaginal examination and clinical expertise and there is currently no method of objectively quantifying the likelihood of successful delivery. Prolonged attempts at vacuum delivery are associated with neonatal morbidity and maternal trauma, especially so if the procedure is unsuccessful and a cesarean is performed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess if ultrasound measurements of fetal position and station can predict duration of vacuum extractions, mode of delivery, and fetal outcome in nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective cohort study in nulliparous women at term with prolonged second stage of labor in 7 European maternity units from 2013 through 2016. Fetal head position and station were determined using transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound, respectively. Our preliminary clinical experience assessing head-perineum distance prior to vacuum delivery suggested that we should set 25 mm for the power calculation, a level corresponding roughly to +2 below the ischial spines. The main outcome was duration of vacuum extraction in relation to ultrasound measured head-perineum distance with a predefined cut-off of 25 mm, and 220 women were needed to discriminate between groups using a hazard ratio of 1.5 with 80% power and alpha 5%. Secondary outcomes were delivery mode and umbilical artery cord blood samples after birth. The time interval was evaluated using survival analyses, and the outcomes of delivery were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and descriptive statistics. Results were analyzed according to intention to treat. RESULTS: The study population comprised 222 women. The duration of vacuum extraction was shorter in women with head-perineum distance ≤25 mm (log rank test <0.01). The estimated median duration in women with head-perineum distance ≤25 mm was 6.0 (95% confidence interval, 5.2-6.8) minutes vs 8.0 (95% confidence interval, 7.1-8.9) minutes in women with head-perineum distance >25 mm. The head-perineum distance was associated with spontaneous delivery with area under the curve 83% (95% confidence interval, 77-89%) and associated with cesarean with area under the curve 83% (95% confidence interval, 74-92%). In women with head-perineum distance ≤35 mm, 7/181 (3.9%) were delivered by cesarean vs 9/41 (22.0%) in women with head-perineum distance >35 mm (P <.01). Ultrasound-assessed position was occiput anterior in 73%. Only 3/138 (2.2%) fetuses in occiput anterior position and head-perineum distance ≤35 mm vs 6/17 (35.3%) with nonocciput anterior position and head-perineum distance >35 mm were delivered by cesarean. Umbilical cord arterial pH <7.10 occurred in 2/144 (1.4%) women with head-perineum distance ≤35 mm compared to 8/40 (20.0%) with head-perineum distance >35 mm (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound has the potential to predict labor outcome in women with prolonged second stage of labor. The information obtained could guide whether vacuum delivery should be attempted or if cesarean is preferable, whether senior staff should be in attendance, and if the vacuum attempt should be performed in the operating theater.

A model to predict vaginal delivery in nulliparous women based on maternal characteristics and intrapartum ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate prediction of whether a nulliparous woman will have a vaginal delivery would be a major advance in obstetrics. The objective of the study was to develop such a model based on maternal characteristics and the results of intrapartum ultrasound. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred twenty-two nulliparous women in the first stage of labor were included in a prospective observational 2-centre study. Labor was classified as prolonged according to the respective countries' national guidelines. Fetal head position was assessed with transabdominal ultrasound and cervical dilatation by digital examination, and transperineal ultrasound was used to determine head-perineum distance and the presence of caput succedaneum. The subjects were divided into a testing set (n = 61) and a validation set (n = 61) and a risk score derived using multivariable logistic regression with vaginal birth as the outcome, which was dichotomized into no/cesarean delivery and yes/vaginal birth. Covariates included head-perineum distance, caput succedaneum, and occiput posterior position, which were dichotomized respectively into the following: ≤40 mm, >40 mm, <10 mm, ≥10 mm, and no, yes. Maternal age, gestational age, and maternal body mass index were included as continuous covariates. RESULTS: Dichotomized score is significantly associated with vaginal delivery (P = .03). Women with a score above the median had greater than 10 times the odds of having a vaginal delivery as compared with those with a score below the median. The receiver-operating characteristic curve showed an area under the curve of 0.853 (95% confidence interval, 0.678-1.000). CONCLUSION: A risk score based on maternal characteristics and intrapartum findings can predict vaginal delivery in nulliparous women in the first stage of labor.