Sonographic markers associated with adverse neonatal outcomes among fetuses with gastroschisis: an 11-year, single-center review.

BACKGROUND: Gastroschisis complicates 1 in 2000 births and is readily identifiable during prenatal ultrasound scans. Outcomes in fetuses that are affected by gastroschisis vary widely from stillbirth or neonatal death to uncomplicated surgical correction, which makes prenatal counseling challenging. OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study was to identify sonographic markers that are associated with perinatal death and morbidity that include significant bowel injury, necrotizing enterocolitis, and the need for bowel resection in fetuses with gastroschisis. STUDY DESIGN: We identified a cohort of fetuses that were diagnosed with gastroschisis from 2003-2014. Sonographic markers that were reviewed included growth restriction, abdominal circumference, oligohydramnios, bowel dilation, and gastric bubble characteristics. We evaluated these markers both at diagnosis and near delivery. Four adverse perinatal outcomes were assessed: perinatal death, necrotizing enterocolitis, need for bowel resection, and a composite of significant bowel injury, which included a diagnosis of bowel atresia or necrosis at the time of surgical exploration. Logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for each marker and outcome. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-seven patients were identified, and 154 of these patients met inclusion criteria after exclusions for delivery <24 weeks gestation, other associated anomalies, lethal karyotype, or lost to follow-up evaluation. Markers at the time of diagnosis (median gestational age, 21 weeks [25th,75th interquartile range, 19, 24 weeks]) that were associated with perinatal death were abdominal circumference <5th percentile (odds ratio, 5.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-24.76), abnormal gastric bubble (odds ratio, 11.20; 95% confidence interval, 2.15-58.33), and abnormal stomach location (odds ratio, 17.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.99-97.85). An abnormal stomach location (odds ratio, 5.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-29.72) before delivery was associated with perinatal death. Gastric dilation before delivery (odds ratio, 4.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-17.34)] was associated with the need for bowel resection. CONCLUSION: Early sonographic markers of increased perinatal mortality rates include abdominal circumference <5th percentile and an abnormal gastric bubble.

Associations between body mass index, post-traumatic stress disorder, and child maltreatment in young women.

The objective of this study was to examine interrelationships between child maltreatment, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and body mass index (BMI) in young women. We used multinomial logistic regression models to explore the possibility that PTSD statistically mediates or moderates the association between BMI category and self-reported childhood sexual abuse (CSA), physical abuse (CPA), or neglect among 3,699 young women participating in a population-based twin study. Obese women had the highest prevalence of CSA, CPA, neglect, and PTSD (p<.001 for all). Although all three forms of child maltreatment were significantly, positively associated with overweight and obesity in unadjusted models, only CSA was significantly associated with obesity after adjusting for other forms of maltreatment and covariates (OR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.63, 3.00). CSA and neglect, but not CPA, were associated with underweight in unadjusted models; however, after adjusting for other forms of maltreatment and covariates, the associations were no longer statistically significant (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 0.90-2.28 and OR=2.16, 95% CI: 0.90-5.16 for CSA and neglect, respectively). Further adjustment for PTSD generally resulted in modest attenuation of effects across associations of child maltreatment forms with BMI categories, suggesting that PTSD may, at most, be only a weak partial mediator of these associations. Future longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking CSA and obesity and to further evaluate the role of PTSD in associations between child maltreatment and obesity.

The GoMo study: a randomized clinical trial assessing neonatal pain with Gomco vs Mogen clamp circumcision.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to compare the pain/stress levels of newborns among the 2 most common circumcision techniques after resident-wide education. STUDY DESIGN: The study period of this randomized control trial was October 2012 through March 2014. Following informed consent, full-term males from uncomplicated singleton pregnancies were randomized to Gomco (n=137) or Mogen (n=137) devices. Resident-wide education for an obstetrics and gynecology residency program at a single institution was performed to ensure standardized training. All infants received a subcutaneous ring block before the procedure and oral sucrose intraoperatively. The primary outcome was neonatal pain assessed physiologically by salivary cortisol levels (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and clinically by a validated neonatal pain score (crying, requires increased oxygen administration, increased vital signs, expression, sleeplessness [CRIES]). Secondary outcomes were immediate complications, duration of procedure, and short-term outcomes as reported by mothers and pediatricians. A sample size of 274 (accounting for 20% loss of follow-up) was determined sufficient to detect a mean difference of 1.22 µg/dL in cortisol levels (Gomco, SD±3.34; Mogen, SD±0.81) with 80% power, P=.05 level of significance. RESULTS: A total of 251 infants completed the protocol. There were no significant differences in maternal or neonatal demographics including preoperative heart rate and mean arterial pressure. In the Mogen circumcision, the percentage change of cortisol was significantly lower than Gomco (279.1±498.15 vs 167.75±272.22; P=.049). There were no differences in postoperative CRIES scores. Postoperative heart rate was higher in infants undergoing Gomco circumcision than Mogen circumcision (138.7±16.5 vs 133.4±17.5; P=.015) as was mean arterial blood pressure (63.3±9.2 vs 60.4±8.6; P=.012). Mogen circumcisions were shorter (7.00±2.97 vs 3.65±1.84 minutes; P<.001). There were no significant differences in bleeding complications. A total of 168 maternal surveys were completed, with 98.7% maternal satisfaction in Gomco vs 98.9% in Mogen. There were no reports of bleeding after discharge or circumcision revisions in either group to date. CONCLUSION: Mogen clamp is associated with less neonatal pain physiologically by significantly lower percentage change in salivary cortisol, lower heart rate, and mean arterial blood pressure. There was no difference in CRIES scores. Mogen clamp circumcision duration is significantly shorter than Gomco clamp. Both methods demonstrate satisfactory maternal and pediatrician short-term follow-up.

Genetic and environmental risk for major depression in African-American and European-American women.

It is unknown whether there are racial differences in the heritability of major depressive disorder (MDD) because most psychiatric genetic studies have been conducted in samples comprised largely of white non-Hispanics. To examine potential differences between African-American (AA) and European-American (EA) young adult women in (1) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) MDD prevalence, symptomatology, and risk factors, and (2) genetic and/or environmental liability to MDD, we analyzed data from a large population-representative sample of twins ascertained from birth records (n = 550 AA and n = 3226 EA female twins) aged 18-28 years at the time of MDD assessment by semi-structured psychiatric interview. AA women were more likely to have MDD risk factors; however, there were no significant differences in lifetime MDD prevalence between AA and EA women after adjusting for covariates (odds ratio = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.67-1.15). Most MDD risk factors identified among AA women were also associated with MDD at similar magnitudes among EA women. Although the MDD heritability point estimate was higher among AA women than EA women in a model with paths estimated separately by race (56%, 95% CI: 29-78% vs. 41%, 95% CI: 29-52%), the best fitting model was one in which additive genetic and non-shared environmental paths for AA and EA women were constrained to be equal (A = 43%, 33-53% and E = 57%, 47-67%). In spite of a marked elevation in the prevalence of environmental risk exposures related to MDD among AA women, there were no significant differences in lifetime prevalence or heritability of MDD between AA and EA young women.

Pain and embarrassment associated with urodynamic testing in women.

INTRODUCTION: Multichannel urodynamics is a series of interactive tests used to evaluate lower urinary tract dysfunction. We sought to describe symptoms and satisfaction in a cohort of women undergoing these procedures. METHODS: Females undergoing urodynamics completed questionnaires immediately (Q1) and 1 week (Q2) after their testing. Surveys utilized visual analog scales (VAS) from 0 to 10 to assess pain, embarrassment, anxiety, and satisfaction. Q2 also inquired about urinary symptoms in the days following the procedure. RESULTS: 100 women were analyzed. Regarding symptoms on the day of testing, VAS scores indicated low bother; with a median of 1.5/10 for pain, 0.4/10 for embarrassment, and 1.8/10 for anxiety. One week following, recall of pain (p = 0.169), and embarrassment (p = 0.722) were similar. Further analyses suggested that overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) might be associated with greater pain during and after the procedure (p = 0.04, p = 0.038 respectively), while depression was associated with greater embarrassment at those times (p = 0.018, p = 0.027 respectively). Painful bladder syndrome (PBS) was associated with a higher recall of pain (p = 0.018), and anxiety with more embarrassment (p = 0.033) on the second survey. Finally, younger age correlated with higher pain on both questionnaires (Q1: τ = - 0.148, p = 0.029; Q2: τ = - 0.171, p = 0.014). Following urodynamics, urgency was most common (43%), generally resolving within 1 day. Reassuringly, 86% would repeat urodynamics if necessary, and overall satisfaction was rated ≥9/10 at both time points. CONCLUSION: Urodynamic testing is well-tolerated in women. Nevertheless, younger age, anxiety or depression, and a diagnosis of OAB and PBS may lead to more negative experiences. Such information may be useful in counseling future patients.