Timing and Trends for Municipal Wastewater, Lab-Confirmed Case, and Syndromic Case Surveillance of COVID-19 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Objectives. To compare 4 COVID-19 surveillance metrics in a major metropolitan area. Methods. We analyzed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in wastewater influent and primary solids in Raleigh, North Carolina, from April 10 through December 13, 2020. We compared wastewater results with lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases and syndromic COVID-like illness (CLI) cases to answer 3 questions: (1) Did they correlate? (2) What was the temporal alignment of the different surveillance systems? (3) Did periods of significant change (i.e., trends) align? Results. In the Raleigh sewershed, wastewater influent, wastewater primary solids, lab-confirmed cases, and CLI were strongly or moderately correlated. Trends in lab-confirmed cases and wastewater influent were observed earlier, followed by CLI and, lastly, wastewater primary solids. All 4 metrics showed sustained increases in COVID-19 in June, July, and November 2020 and sustained decreases in August and September 2020. Conclusions. In a major metropolitan area in 2020, the timing of and trends in municipal wastewater, lab-confirmed case, and syndromic case surveillance of COVID-19 were in general agreement. Public Health Implications. Our results provide evidence for investment in SARS-CoV-2 wastewater and CLI surveillance to complement information provided through lab-confirmed cases. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(1):79-88. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307108).

Safe Today, Unsafe Tomorrow: Tanzanian Households Experience Variability in Drinking Water Quality.

Measuring Escherichia coli in a single-grab sample of stored drinking water is often used to characterize drinking water quality. However, if water quality exhibits variability temporally, then one-time measurement schemes may be insufficient to adequately characterize the quality of water that people consume. This study uses longitudinal data collected from 193 households in peri-urban Tanzania to assess variability in stored water quality and to characterize uncertainty with different data collection schemes. Households were visited 5 times over the course of a year. At each visit, information was collected on water management practices, and a sample of stored drinking water was collected for E. coli enumeration. Water quality was poor for households, with 80% having highly contaminated (>100 CFU per 100 mL) water during at least one visit. There was substantial variability of water quality for households, with only 3% of households having the same category (low, medium, or high) of water quality for all five visits. These data suggest a single sample would inaccurately characterize a household's drinking water quality over the course of a year and lead to misestimates of population level access to safe drinking water.

Cell-free DNA screening for prenatal detection of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Historically, prenatal screening has focused primarily on the detection of fetal aneuploidies. Cell-free DNA now enables noninvasive screening for subchromosomal copy number variants, including 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (or DiGeorge syndrome), which is the most common microdeletion and a leading cause of congenital heart defects and neurodevelopmental delay. Although smaller studies have demonstrated the feasibility of screening for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, large cohort studies with confirmatory postnatal testing to assess test performance have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the performance of single-nucleotide polymorphism-based, prenatal cell-free DNA screening for detection of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: Patients who underwent single-nucleotide polymorphism-based prenatal cell-free DNA screening for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome were prospectively enrolled at 21 centers in 6 countries. Prenatal or newborn DNA samples were requested in all cases for genetic confirmation using chromosomal microarrays. The primary outcome was sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of cell-free DNA screening for the detection of all deletions, including the classical deletion and nested deletions that are ≥500 kb, in the 22q11.2 low-copy repeat A-D region. Secondary outcomes included the prevalence of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and performance of an updated cell-free DNA algorithm that was evaluated with blinding to the pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: Of the 20,887 women enrolled, a genetic outcome was available for 18,289 (87.6%). A total of 12 22q11.2 deletion syndrome cases were confirmed in the cohort, including 5 (41.7%) nested deletions, yielding a prevalence of 1 in 1524. In the total cohort, cell-free DNA screening identified 17,976 (98.3%) cases as low risk for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and 38 (0.2%) cases as high risk; 275 (1.5%) cases were nonreportable. Overall, 9 of 12 cases of 22q11.2 were detected, yielding a sensitivity of 75.0% (95% confidence interval, 42.8-94.5); specificity of 99.84% (95% confidence interval, 99.77-99.89); positive predictive value of 23.7% (95% confidence interval, 11.44-40.24), and negative predictive value of 99.98% (95% confidence interval, 99.95-100). None of the cases with a nonreportable result was diagnosed with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The updated algorithm detected 10 of 12 cases (83.3%; 95% confidence interval, 51.6-97.9) with a lower false positive rate (0.05% vs 0.16%; P<.001) and a positive predictive value of 52.6% (10/19; 95% confidence interval, 28.9-75.6). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive cell-free DNA prenatal screening for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome can detect most affected cases, including smaller nested deletions, with a low false positive rate.

Modeling Exposure to Fecal Contamination in Drinking Water due to Multiple Water Source Use.

The Joint Monitoring Programme estimated that 71% of people globally had access to "safely managed" drinking water in 2017. However, typical data collection practices focus only on a household's primary water source, yet some households in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) engage in multiple water source use, including supplementing improved water supplies with unimproved water throughout the year. Monte Carlo simulations and previously published data were used to simulate exposure to fecal contamination (as measured by E. coli) along a range of supplemental unimproved source use rates (e.g., 0-100% improved water use, with the remainder made up with unimproved water). The model results revealed a statistically significant increase in annual exposure to E. coli when individuals supplement their improved water with unimproved water just 2 days annually. Additionally, our analysis identified scenarios-realistic for the data set study setting-where supplementing with unimproved water counterintuitively decreases exposure to E. coli. These results highlight the need for evaluating the temporal dynamics in water quality and availability of drinking water sources in LMICs as well as capturing the use of multiple water sources for monitoring global access to safe drinking water.

Human Gut Microbiota-associated Gastrointestinal Malignancies: A Comprehensive Review.

The human gastrointestinal tract houses trillions of microbes. The gut and various types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea, form a complex ecosystem known as the gut microbiota, and the whole genome of the gut microbiota is referred to as the gut microbiome. The gut microbiota is essential for homeostasis and the overall well-being of a person and is increasingly considered an adjunct "virtual organ," with a complexity level comparable to that of the other organ systems. The gut microbiota plays an essential role in nutrition, local mucosal homeostasis, inflammation, and the mucosal immune system. An imbalanced state of the gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, can predispose to development of various gastrointestinal malignancies through three speculated pathogenic mechanisms: (a) direct cytotoxic effects with damage to the host DNA, (b) disproportionate proinflammatory signaling inducing inflammation, and (c) activation of tumorigenic pathways or suppression of tumor-suppressing pathways. Several microorganisms, including Helicobacter pylori, Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomavirus, Mycoplasma species, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus bovis, are associated with gastrointestinal malignancies such as esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, and anal squamous cell carcinoma. Imaging plays a pivotal role in diagnosis and management of microbiota-associated gastrointestinal malignancies. Appropriate use of probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and overall promotion of the healthy gut are ongoing areas of research for prevention and treatment of malignancies. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2021.

Multiple water source use in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

The Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2017 Update and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Baselines report classified 71% of the global population as having access to 'safely managed' drinking water. Current global monitoring efforts to track access to safely managed drinking water rely on collecting information on the 'primary' source of drinking water. However, there is evidence that households often rely on multiple sources to meet their water needs in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This systematic review was designed to compile the literature related to the practice of multiple water source use (MWSU) for drinking water in LMICs. A total of 5,318 studies were collected, and after abstract and full-text review, 74 articles were identified for inclusion. Studies reviewed reported from 4 to 100% of the study populations practicing MWSU. Additionally, the practice of supplemental unimproved source use was reported globally, representing households with improved primary source water also accessing unimproved water sources throughout the year. These findings expose gaps in current global water monitoring efforts, revealing potential inflation of reports of 'safe drinking water access' and unaccounted exposure to drinking water from unimproved sources.

A narrative literature review: the application of video games as therapeutic tools for psychological therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Video games (games played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer programme on a screen) are being developed with a specific focus on treating mental health. This narrative review briefly discusses the history of video games and mental health. It then provides a critical discussion on the application of video games as therapeutic tools, then discusses the notion of 'serious games' (games designed for a primary purpose other than entertainment) and their applicability. CONCLUSIONS: Serious games have preliminary evidence to support their use practically in the clinical treatment of mental illness. Future randomised control trials are necessary to further explore their efficacy and potential areas of application.

Emerging and legacy brominated flame retardants in the breast milk of first time Irish mothers suggest positive response to restrictions on use of HBCDD and Penta- and Octa-BDE formulations.

The brominated flame retardants (BFRs) hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were measured in 16 pools of human milk from Ireland. Concentrations of BDEs-47, -99, -100, -153, and HBCDD were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those in Irish human milk collected in 2011. In contrast, concentrations of BDE-209 in our study exceeded those in 2011, and while decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) was not detected in 2011 it was detected in 3 of our samples. This suggests increased use of DBDPE and that while restrictions on the Penta- and Octa-BDE formulations are reducing human exposure, those on Deca-BDE use have yet to reduce body burdens. Estimated exposures for nursing infants to all target BFRs do not suggest a health concern. A one compartment pharmacokinetic model was used to predict body burdens arising from BFR intakes via air, dust and diet. While for most targeted BFRs, predicted and observed body burdens derived from our human milk data compared reasonably well; predicted BDE-209 and DBDPE values were substantially lower than observed. This suggests exposure pathways not included in the model like dermal uptake from fabrics may be important, and highlights knowledge gaps about the human half-lives and bioavailability of these contaminants.

The Impact of Aspirin on Ultrasound Markers of Uteroplacental Flow in Low-Risk Pregnancy: Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter RCT.

OBJECTIVE: This article evaluates the effect of low-dose aspirin on uterine artery (UtA) Doppler, placental volume, and vascularization flow indices in low-risk pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: In this secondary analysis of the TEST randomized controlled trial, low-risk nulliparous women were originally randomized at 11 weeks to: (1) routine aspirin 75 mg; (2) no aspirin; and (3) aspirin based upon the preeclampsia Fetal Medicine Foundation screening test. UtA Doppler, three-dimensional (3D) placental volume, and vascularization flow indices were assessed prior to and 6 weeks postaspirin commencement. RESULTS: A total of 546 women were included (aspirin n = 192, no aspirin n = 354). Between first and second trimesters, aspirin use was not associated with a change in UtA Doppler, placental volume, or vascular flow indices. There was no significant difference in the change in UtA Doppler pulsatility index (PI) Z-scores or notching (PI Z-score -0.2 vs. -0.2, p = 0.17), nor was there a significant change in placental volume Z-score and vascular flow indices (volume Z-score change: 0.74 vs. 0.62, p = 0.34). CONCLUSION: Low-dose aspirin commenced at 11 weeks in low-risk women does not appear to improve uterine and placental perfusion or placental volume. Any perceived effect on uteroplacental vasculature is not reflected in changes in placental volume nor uteroplacental flow as assessed by two-dimensional and 3D ultrasound.

Evaluation of normalization of cerebro-placental ratio as a potential predictor for adverse outcome in SGA fetuses.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine growth restriction accounts for a significant proportion of perinatal morbidity and mortality currently encountered in obstetric practice. The primary goal of antenatal care is the early recognition of such conditions to allow treatment and optimization of both maternal and fetal outcomes. Management of pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction remains one of the greatest challenges in obstetrics. Frequently, however, clinical evidence of underlying uteroplacental dysfunction may only emerge at a late stage in the disease process. With advanced disease the only therapeutic intervention is delivery of the fetus and placenta. The cerebroplacental ratio is gaining much interest as a useful tool in differentiating the at-risk fetus in both intrauterine growth restriction and the appropriate-for-gestational-age setting. The cerebroplacental ratio quantifies the redistribution of the cardiac output resulting in a brain-sparing effect. The Prospective Observational Trial to Optimize Pediatric Health in Intrauterine Growth Restriction group previously demonstrated that the presence of a brain-sparing effect is significantly associated with an adverse perinatal outcome in the intrauterine growth restriction cohort. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the Prospective Observational Trial to Optimize Pediatric Health in Intrauterine Growth Restriction study was to evaluate the optimal management of fetuses with an estimated fetal weight <10th centile. The objective of this secondary analysis was to evaluate if normalizing cerebroplacental ratio predicts adverse perinatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: In all, 1116 consecutive singleton pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction completed the study protocol over 2 years at 7 centers, undergoing serial sonographic evaluation and multivessel Doppler measurement. Cerebroplacental ratio was calculated using the pulsatility and resistance indices of the middle cerebral and umbilical artery. Abnormal cerebroplacental ratio was defined as <1.0. Adverse perinatal outcome was defined as a composite of intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, and death. RESULTS: Data for cerebroplacental ratio calculation were available in 881 cases, with a mean gestational age of 33 (interquartile range, 28.7-35.9) weeks. Of the 87 cases of abnormal serial cerebroplacental ratio with an initial value <1.0, 52% (n = 45) of cases remained abnormal and 22% of these (n = 10) had an adverse perinatal outcome. The remaining 48% (n = 42) demonstrated normalizing cerebroplacental ratio on serial sonography, and 5% of these (n = 2) had an adverse perinatal outcome. Mean gestation at delivery was 33.4 weeks (n = 45) in the continuing abnormal cerebroplacental ratio group and 36.5 weeks (n = 42) in the normalizing cerebroplacental ratio group (P value <.001). CONCLUSION: The Prospective Observational Trial to Optimize Pediatric Health in Intrauterine Growth Restriction group previously demonstrated that the presence of a brain-sparing effect was significantly associated with an adverse perinatal outcome in our intrauterine growth restriction cohort. It was hypothesized that a normalizing cerebroplacental ratio would be a further predictor of an adverse outcome due to the loss of this compensatory mechanism. However, in this subanalysis we did not demonstrate an additional poor prognostic effect when the cerebroplacental ratio value returned to a value >1.0. Overall, this secondary analysis demonstrated the importance of a serial abnormal cerebroplacental ratio value of <1 within the <34 weeks' gestation population. Contrary to our proposed hypothesis, we recognize that reversion of an abnormal cerebroplacental ratio to a normal ratio is not associated with a heightened degree of adverse perinatal outcome.

Prediction of cesarean delivery in the term nulliparous woman: results from the prospective, multicenter Genesis study.

BACKGROUND: In contemporary practice many nulliparous women require intervention during childbirth such as operative vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery (CD). Despite the knowledge that the increasing rate of CD is associated with increasing maternal age, obesity and larger infant birthweight, we lack a reliable method to predict the requirement for such potentially hazardous obstetric procedures during labor and delivery. This issue is important, as there are greater rates of morbidity and mortality associated with unplanned CD performed in labor compared with scheduled CDs. A prediction algorithm to identify women at risk of an unplanned CD could help reduced labor associated morbidity. OBJECTIVE: In this primary analysis of the Genesis study, our objective was to prospectively assess the use of prenatally determined, maternal and fetal, anthropomorphic, clinical, and ultrasound features to develop a predictive tool for unplanned CD in the term nulliparous woman, before the onset of labor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Genesis study recruited 2336 nulliparous women with a vertex presentation between 39+0 and 40+6 weeks' gestation in a prospective multicenter national study to examine predictors of CD. At recruitment, a detailed clinical evaluation and ultrasound assessment were performed. To reduce bias from knowledge of these data potentially influencing mode of delivery, women, midwives, and obstetricians were blinded to the ultrasound data. All hypothetical prenatal risk factors for unplanned CD were assessed as a composite. Multiple logistic regression analysis and mathematical modeling was used to develop a risk evaluation tool for CD in nulliparous women. Continuous predictors were standardized using z scores. RESULTS: From a total enrolled cohort of 2336 nulliparous participants, 491 (21%) had an unplanned CD. Five parameters were determined to be the best combined predictors of CD. These were advancing maternal age (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.34), shorter maternal height (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.52 to 1.93), increasing body mass index (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.43), larger fetal abdominal circumference (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.38), and larger fetal head circumference (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.42). A nomogram was developed to provide an individualized risk assessment to predict CD in clinical practice, with excellent calibration and discriminative ability (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, D statistic, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.30) with a misclassification rate of 0.21 (95% CI, 0.19 to 0.25). CONCLUSION: Five parameters (maternal age, body mass index, height, fetal abdominal circumference, and fetal head circumference) can, in combination, be used to better determine the overall risk of CD in nulliparous women at term. A risk score can be used to inform women of their individualized probability of CD. This risk tool may be useful for reassuring most women regarding their likely success at achieving an uncomplicated vaginal delivery as well as selecting those patients with such a high risk for CD that they should avoid a trial of labor. Such a risk tool has the potential to greatly improve planning hospital service needs and minimizing patient risk.

Cardiotocography versus intermittent auscultation of fetal heart on admission to labour ward for assessment of fetal wellbeing.

BACKGROUND: The admission cardiotocograph (CTG) is a commonly used screening test consisting of a short (usually 20 minutes) recording of the fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine activity performed on the mother's admission to the labour ward. This is an update of a review published in 2012. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of admission cardiotocography with intermittent auscultation of the FHR on maternal and infant outcomes for pregnant women without risk factors on their admission to the labour ward. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register to 30 November 2016 and we planned to review the reference list of retrieved papers SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing admission CTG with intermittent auscultation of the FHR for pregnant women between 37 and 42 completed weeks of pregnancy and considered to be at low risk of intrapartum fetal hypoxia and of developing complications during labour. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial eligibility and quality, and extracted data. Data were checked for accuracy. MAIN RESULTS: We included no new trials in this update. We included four trials involving more than 13,000 women which were conducted in the UK and Ireland and included women in labour. Three trials were funded by the hospitals where the trials took place and one trial was funded by the Scottish government. No declarations of interest were made in two trials; the remaining two trials did not mention declarations of interest. Overall, the studies were assessed as low risk of bias. Results reported in the 2012 review remain unchanged.Although not statistically significant using a strict P < 0.05 criterion, data were consistent with women allocated to admission CTG having, on average, a higher probability of an increase in incidence of caesarean section than women allocated to intermittent auscultation (risk ratio (RR) 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00 to 1.44, 4 trials, 11,338 women, I² = 0%, moderate quality evidence). There was no clear difference in the average treatment effect across included trials between women allocated to admission CTG and women allocated to intermittent auscultation in instrumental vaginal birth (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.27, 4 trials, 11,338 women, I² = 38%, low quality evidence) and perinatal mortality rate (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.30 to 3.47, 4 trials, 11,339 infants, I² = 0%, moderate quality evidence).Women allocated to admission CTG had, on average, higher rates of continuous electronic fetal monitoring during labour (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.48, 3 trials, 10,753 women, I² = 79%, low quality evidence) and fetal blood sampling (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.45, 3 trials, 10,757 women, I² = 0%) than women allocated to intermittent auscultation. There were no differences between groups in other secondary outcome measures including incidence and severity of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (incidence only reported) (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.37 to 3.90; 2367 infants; 1 trial; very low quality evidence) and incidence of seizures in the neonatal period (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.61; 8056 infants; 1 trial; low quality evidence). There were no data reported for severe neurodevelopmental disability assessed at greater than, or equal to, 12 months of age. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to continued use in some clinical areas, we found no evidence of benefit for the use of the admission CTG for low-risk women on admission in labour.Furthermore, the probability is that admission CTG increases the caesarean section rate by approximately 20%. The data lacked power to detect possible important differences in perinatal mortality. However, it is unlikely that any trial, or meta-analysis, will be adequately powered to detect such differences. The findings of this review support recommendations that the admission CTG not be used for women who are low risk on admission in labour. Women should be informed that admission CTG is likely associated with an increase in the incidence of caesarean section without evidence of benefit.Evidence quality ranged from moderate to very low, with downgrading decisions based on imprecision, inconsistency and a lack of blinding for participants and personnel. All four included trials were conducted in developed Western European countries. One additional study is ongoing.The usefulness of the findings of this review for developing countries will depend on FHR monitoring practices. However, an absence of benefit and likely harm associated with admission CTG will have relevance for countries where questions are being asked about the role of the admission CTG.Future studies evaluating the effects of the admission CTG should consider including women admitted with signs of labour and before a formal diagnosis of labour. This would include a cohort of women currently having admission CTGs and not included in current trials.

Prenatal prediction of significant intertwin birthweight discordance using standard second and third trimester sonographic parameters.

INTRODUCTION: Our study aim was to evaluate standard ultrasound-derived fetal biometric parameters in the prediction of clinically significant intertwin birthweight discordance defined as ≥18%. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of 1028 unselected twin pairs recruited over a two-year period. Dichorionic twins underwent two-weekly ultrasonographic surveillance from 24 weeks' gestation, with surveillance of monochorionic twins two-weekly from 16 weeks. Ultrasonographic biometric data from 24 to 36 weeks were evaluated for the prediction of an intertwin birthweight discordance threshold ≥18%. Umbilical artery Doppler waveform data was also analyzed to evaluate whether it was predictive of birthweight discordance. RESULTS: Of the 956 twin pairs analyzed for discordance, 208 pairs were found to have a clinically significant birthweight discordance ≥18%. All biometric parameters were predictive of significant inter-twin birthweight discordance at low cut-offs, with low discriminatory powers when ROC curves were analyzed. Discordance in estimated fetal weight was predictive of a significant birthweight discordance at all gestational categories with cut-offs between 8 and 11%. A low-discriminatory power and poor sensitivity and specificity were also observed. An abnormal umbilical artery Doppler was predictive of birthweight discordance ≥18% between 28 and 32 weeks' gestation, although with poor sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Calculation of estimated fetal weight and birthweight discordance between twins allows minimal margin for error. These margins make it difficult to accurately predict those who are at or above the discordance threshold of 18%. These findings highlight that small intertwin discrepancies in weight and biometry should not be overlooked and merit further investigation.

Is routine transvaginal cervical length measurement cost-effective in a population where the risk of spontaneous preterm birth is low?

INTRODUCTION: A recent meta-analysis has suggested that routine measurement of the cervical length should be performed in conjunction with the anomaly scan to identify a group of women at increased risk of preterm delivery. We decided to investigate whether this recommendation is justifiable in a population where the risk of preterm birth is low. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 12 years of obstetric data from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital. Relative risks of adverse outcomes from the randomized controlled trial were applied and we extrapolated the possible numbers of women requiring intervention. We then used published neonatal data to estimate the cost of neonatal care and estimated the costs of providing the service. RESULTS: Over 12 years from 2000 until 2011, there were 94 646 singleton deliveries, 1776 happening before 34 weeks. Spontaneous onset occurred in 882 (49.7%) of this group. These 882 births were studied. If we apply the figures from a randomized controlled trial, 1609 women (1.7% from our total population) would be expected to have a cervical length 15 mm. If we gave vaginal progesterone to all women with a sonographically short cervix, we would reduce the delivery rate before 34 weeks by 27.7%. The annual costs of providing the service were estimated to be €109 249 and the cost of immediate neonatal care was estimated to be €380 514. CONCLUSION: Given the implications associated with preterm delivery, routine measurement of cervical length at the time of the anomaly scan may be justifiable from a cost point of view in a population where the risk of preterm birth is low.

Gestational hypertensive disease in twin pregnancy: Influence on outcomes in a large national prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Gestational hypertensive disease (GHD) is associated with pregnancy-related complications and poor maternal and fetal outcomes in singleton pregnancies. We sought to examine the influence of GHD in a large prospective cohort of twin pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: The ESPRIT study was a national multicenter observational cohort study of 1028 structurally normal twin pregnancies. Each pregnancy underwent sonographic surveillance with two-week ultrasound from 24 weeks for dichorionic and from 16 weeks for monochorionic gestations. Characteristics and demographics as well as labour and delivery outcome data were prospectively recorded. Perinatal mortality, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a composite of morbidity of respiratory distress syndrome, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis were documented for all cases. Outcomes for patients with documented GHD (pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension) were compared with those without GHD. RESULTS: Perinatal outcome data were recorded for 977 patients. Women with GHD had a higher body mass index (27.1 ± 6.4 vs 25.2 ± 4.5, P < 0.0001) than those without and were more likely to be nulliparous (65% (59/92) vs 46% (407/885), P = 0.001). Both groups had similar mean birthweights, but those with GHD were more likely to have a birthweight discordance ≥18% (35% (32/92) vs 20% (179/885), P = 0.001). Rates of caesarean delivery were higher in those twin pregnancies affected by GHD, and while the rate of composite morbidity was similar in both groups, twins in the GHD group had higher rates of NICU admission. CONCLUSION: In twin gestations, gestational hypertension independently confers an increased risk for emergency caesarean delivery, birthweight discordance and NICU admission, such that intensive maternal-fetal monitoring is justified when hypertension develops in a twin pregnancy.

The effect of maternal obesity on sonographic fetal weight estimation and perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction.

PURPOSE: Maternal obesity represents a challenge in the sonographic (US) assessment of fetal weight, and is a recognized risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome. The objective of this secondary analysis of data from the Prospective Observational Trial to Optimize Pediatric Health in fetal growth restriction (FGR) Study (PORTO) was to describe the effect of maternal obesity on the accuracy of US in determining the estimated fetal weight (EFW) and the perinatal outcome of pregnancies affected by FGR. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2012, 1,116 women with nonanomalous singleton pregnancies with an EFW in less than the tenth centile were recruited for the PORTO study. Maternal body mass index (BMI) was divided into five subcategories: normal (BMI < 24.9 kg/m(2) ), overweight (25-29.9), obese class 1 (30-34.9), obese class 2 (35-39.9), and obese class 3 (>40). The accuracy of the EFW was determined in women who delivered within 2 weeks of their last US scan. Perinatal outcomes were analyzed by BMI subcategory. RESULTS: Of the 1,074 patients with complete records, 691 (64%) were of normal weight, 258 (24%) were overweight, 93 (9%) were in obese class 1, 32 (3%) were in obese class 2, and none were in obese class 3. Overall, the EFW determined prior to delivery was within 6% of the actual birth weight in all BMI subcategories. Overweight and obese women delivered more commonly by cesarean section and at earlier gestational ages than did women with a normal BMI (p = 0.0008), resulting in lower birth weights (p = 0.0031) and significantly increased composite perinatal morbidity (p < 0.0001) and mortality (p = 0.0215) rates. CONCLUSIONS: US examination is reliable for assessing the weight of fetuses with FGR in overweight women. Maternal obesity, however, has a significant adverse effect on perinatal outcomes. Thus, health education should focus on awareness of this adverse effect, with optimization of prepregnancy weight as its main goal.

The role of preanalytical glycolysis in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus in obese women.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective observational study was to determine whether the preanalytical management of maternal plasma glucose samples had a significant effect on glucose measurements in obese pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: Based on the accurate calculation of body mass index in the first trimester, obese women were recruited at their convenience. In 1 cohort, fasting glucose level was measured in early pregnancy; in the other cohort, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 24-28 weeks' gestation. Paired samples were taken from all women in both cohorts. The first sample was transferred to the laboratory in iced water for immediate analysis (fast-tracked analysis). The second sample was not placed on ice and transferred according to established hospital practices (hospital-tracked analysis). RESULTS: Of the 24 women who had a fasting glucose test in early pregnancy, the result was abnormal (≥5.1 mmol/L) in 7 women (29%) with hospital-tracked analysis compared with 16 women (67%) with fast-tracked analysis (P < .01). The mean phlebotomy-analysis interval was 119 minutes for the hospital-tracked samples compared with 23 minutes for the fast-tracked samples (P < .001). Of the 24 women who had a glucose tolerance test, the fasting glucose level was abnormal in 4 women (17%) after hospital-tracked analysis compared with 13 women (54%) after fast-tracked analysis (P < .01). The hospital-tracked phlebotomy-analysis interval for the fasting sample of the 24-28 week oral glucose tolerance test cohort was 166 minutes compared with 25 minutes for the fast-tracked samples (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Unless maternal fasting glucose samples are transported on ice and analyzed immediately in the laboratory, gestational diabetes mellitus will be underdiagnosed in obese women.

Dichorionic twin ultrasound surveillance: sonography every 4 weeks significantly underperforms sonography every 2 weeks: results of the Prospective Multicenter ESPRiT Study.

OBJECTIVE: A 2-week ultrasound scanning schedule for monochorionic twins is endorsed widely. There is a lack of robust data to inform a schedule for the surveillance of dichorionic gestations. We aimed to determine how ultrasound scanning that is performed at 2- or 4-week intervals (or every 4 weeks before 32 weeks' gestation and every 2 weeks thereafter) may impact the prenatal detection of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and ultimately influence timing of delivery. STUDY DESIGN: In a consecutive cohort of 789 dichorionic twin pregnancies that were recruited prospectively for the multicenter Evaluation of Sonographic Predictors of Restricted Growth in Twins study, ultrasound determination of fetal growth and interrogation of umbilical and middle cerebral artery Doppler scans were performed every 2 weeks from 24 weeks' gestation until delivery. Complete delivery and perinatal outcome data were recorded for all pregnancies. Where delivery was prompted by FGR, abnormal umbilical artery Doppler examination or poor biophysical profile and in the absence of ruptured membranes, onset of labor, preeclampsia, or antepartum hemorrhage, the delivery was considered "ultrasound-indicated." For ultrasound-indicated deliveries, detection probabilities for FGR/abnormal umbilical artery Doppler scans/poor biophysical were determined according to the interval between examinations, by the suppression if alternate examination data. RESULTS: Among 789 dichorionic twin pregnancies, 66 pairs (8%) had an "ultrasound indicated" delivery. Detection of FGR was reduced from 88-69%, and detection of abnormal umbilical artery Doppler was reduced from 82-62% when a 4-week ultrasound schedule was simulated. Both of these reductions reached statistical significance. There was a nonsignificant trend toward a reduction in the recording of oligohydramnios with a 4-week interval between examinations. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the ultrasound surveillance program of every 2 weeks that is recommended currently for monochorionic twins should be extended to dichorionic gestations.

The influence of maternal body mass index on fetal weight estimation in twin pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Sonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) is important in the management of high-risk pregnancies. The possibility that increased maternal body mass index (BMI) adversely affects EFW assessments in twin pregnancies is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal BMI on the accuracy of EFW assessments in twin gestations prospectively recruited for the ESPRiT (Evaluation of Sonographic Predictors of Restricted growth in Twins) study. STUDY DESIGN: One thousand one twin pair pregnancies were recruited. After exclusion, BMI, birthweights, and ultrasound determination of EFW (within 2 weeks of delivery) were available for 943 twin pairs. The accuracy of EFW determination was defined as the difference between EFW and actual birthweight for either twin (absolute difference and percent difference). Cells with less than 5% of the population were combined for analysis resulting in the following 3 maternal categories: (1) normal/underweight, (2) overweight, and (3) obese/extremely obese. RESULTS: Analysis of the 3 categories revealed mean absolute variation values of 184 g (8.0%) in the normal/underweight group (n = 531), 196 g (8.5%) in the overweight group (n = 278), and 206 g (8.6%) in the obese/extremely obese group (n = 134) (P = .028, which was nonsignificant after adjustment for multiple testing). Regression analysis showed no linear or log-linear relationship between BMI and the accuracy of EFW (P value for absolute difference = .11, P value for percentage difference = .27). CONCLUSION: Contrary to a commonly held clinical impression, increasing maternal BMI has no significant impact on the accuracy of EFW in twin pregnancy.

The role of brain sparing in the prediction of adverse outcomes in intrauterine growth restriction: results of the multicenter PORTO Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the Prospective Observational Trial to Optimize Pediatric Health in IUGR Study was to evaluate the optimal management of fetuses with an estimated fetal weight less than the 10th centile. The objective of this secondary analysis was to describe the role of the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: More than 1100 consecutive singleton pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) were recruited over 2 years at 7 centers, undergoing serial sonographic evaluation including multivessel Doppler measurement. CPR was calculated using the pulsatility and resistance indices of the middle cerebral and umbilical artery. Adverse perinatal outcome was defined as a composite of intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, and death. RESULTS: Data for CPR calculation was available in 881 cases, which was performed at a mean gestational age of 33 weeks (interquarile range, 28.7-35.9). Of the 146 cases with CPR less than 1, 18% (n = 27) had an adverse perinatal outcome. This conferred an 11-fold increased risk (odds ratio, 11.7; P < .0001) when compared with cases with normal CPR (2%; 14 of 735). An abnormal CPR was present in all 3 cases of mortality. Prediction of adverse outcomes was comparable when using all definitions of abnormal CPR. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of the CPR calculation used, brain sparing is significantly associated with an adverse perinatal outcome in IUGR. This adds further weight to integrating CPR evaluation into the clinical assessment of IUGR pregnancies. The impact of this finding on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in this patient cohort is underway.