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Please cite this paper as: Shehata F, Levin I, Shrim A, Ata B, Weisz B, Gamzu R, Almog B. Placenta/birthweight ratio and perinatal outcome: a retrospective cohort analysis. BJOG 2011;118:741-747. The placenta weight/birthweight (PW/BW) ratio has been shown to be associated with certain long-term fetal outcomes; however, its association with short-term outcomes has not received much attention. Our aim was to assess the correlation between the PW/BW ratio and short-term adverse obstetrics outcomes in full-term, appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) newborns. Retrospective cohort study analysis using data from the McGill Obstetrical and Neonatal Database. McGill University Health Centre in Montreal Canada. AGA neonates. Three groups of full-term AGA neonates were created, according to their PW/BW ratio (high, normal and low), to be compared. Our primary outcome was the admission rate to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and secondary outcomes included an Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes, cord PH < 7.0, cord base excess (BE) ≤ 12, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), occurrence of apnoea episodes, breech presentation at delivery, caesarean section rate and status in discharge home. A logistic regression model was instituted to investigate the predictors for adverse obstetrics outcomes. Admission to the NICU. Compared with the group with normal PW/BW ratios, the high PW/BW ratio group was associated with increased rates of admission to the NICU, of Apgar scores < 7 at 5 minutes, of breech presentation and caesarean section. On the contrary, the low PW/BW ratio group showed decreased rates of NICU admission, breech presentation and caesarean section. A high PW/BW ratio is significantly correlated with short-term adverse perinatal outcomes. This ratio may be used as a new and simple warning sign to predict the possibility of short-term health risks for newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose To examine whether double transfer of embryos on day 2-3 and on day 5 after ovum pick-up (OPU) improves IVF/ET success rates in patients with multiple consecutive IVF failures Methods Consecutive IVF failures patients (7.6±0.5) undergoing IVF/ET cycles were treated with interval double transfer on day 2-3 and on day 5 after OPU. Matched patients, that had embryos transferred only once on day 2 or 3 served as controls. Results Baseline and cycle characteristics were similar in the study group and controls. The total pregnancy rate was 44.6% in the study group and 24.2% in the controls (p= 0.001), and the clinical pregnancy rates were 38.5% and 19.6%, respectively (p=0.001). Conclusions Patients with multiple consecutive IVF/ET failures, treated with the interval double transfer approach had significantly improved cycle success rates compared with regular day 2 or 3 embryo transfer protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the ultrasonographic feasibility of imaging the fetal pons and to construct a reference chart for its normal development during gestation. Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study on 293 healthy fetuses of low-risk pregnancies between 19 and 34 weeks was performed. The transfontanel approach, via the abdominal or vaginal routes, was used to evaluate the fetal metencephalon (pons and cerebellum). The anteroposterior diameter of the fetal pons was measured in a mid-sagittal plane. The longitudinal diameter of the cerebellar vermis was measured at the same plane and the vermis-pons ratio (VPR) was established. Results: One hundred and forty-four fetuses were in vertex position. In 140 (97.2%) satisfactory visualization and measurements of the pons and cerebellar vermis were obtained. One hundred and forty-nine fetuses were breech presentations and measurements were successfully performed in 147 (98.6%). The pons anteroposterior and vermis longitudinal diameters showed a linear correlation with gestational age (GA) (r = 0.95 for both measurements; P < 0.001). The mean VPR was 1.5 (+/-0.1 SD) and did not change in the gestational interval that was considered. Conclusion: By using the transfontanel approach, evaluation of the fetal pons is feasible via the mid-sagittal plane. The nomograms developed and the ratio to fetal vermis provides reference data that may be helpful when evaluating anomalies of the brainstem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Many theories regarding the pathophysiology leading to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) have been proposed and tested. Increased erythrocyte aggregation is associated with capillary slow flow and tissue hypoxaemia. We performed this study in order to assess the degree of erythrocyte aggregation in the peripheral blood of individuals with OHSS and undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COH). METHODS: Twenty women with severe OHSS, 20 women undergoing COH under IVF protocol, and 20 healthy matched controls were recruited for this prospective study. Blood samples were drawn for determination of erythrocyte aggregation as well as haematological indices. The percentage of slide covered by the cells (‘erythrocyte percentage’: EP) was determined using a simple slide test and image analysis. Lower EP values correspond to higher degrees of aggregation. RESULTS: The respective measures of EP were 59.2 ± 3.0, 42.0 ± 3.0 and 35.0 ± 2.4% µm for the controls, women with COH and OHSS (P < 0.01 between controls and the two stimulation groups). CONCLUSIONS: The degree of erythrocyte aggregation is enhanced in the peripheral venous blood of patients with both COH and OHSS. This finding, known to cause capillary leak, may contribute to the pathophysiology of the OHSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and economic implications of integrating human papilloma virus (HPV) load testing into the follow-up and management protocol of women postconisation for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2-3). We evaluated 130 suitable women: 63 were screened biannually by Pap smears ('conventional approach') and 67 also had HPV-load testing ('HPV approach'). More stringent criteria for undergoing colposcopy or reconisation were observed by the former group compared to the latter. Both approaches were analysed for cost effectiveness. There were 33 out of 67 (49.2%) colposcopic referrals and 24 out of 67 (35.8%) reconisation/hysterectomies with the 'conventional approach' compared to 9 out of 63 (14.2%) and 7 out of 63 (11.1%) with the 'HPV approach'. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2-3 residual disease was detected in 7 out of 67 (10.5%) and 7 out of 63 (11.1%) women. The 'conventional approach' had more negative colposcopic biopsies and more negative reconisation/hysterectomy histologies than the 'HPV approach'. The respective cost per detection of one case of residual disease was US$3573 and US$3485. The 'HPV approach' required fewer colposcopic and reconisation procedures to detect one case of residual CIN2-3. Its higher positive predictive value than that of cytology provided a significant decrease in false positive rates and a reduction of US$88 per detected case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the tunneling measurements of sub-micron metal/insulator/graphene planar tunnel junctions up to room temperature. We observe a gate independent gap, as previously observed only by low temperature STM [Y. Zhang et al., Nat. Phys. 4, 627 (2008)]. No gap appears at temperatures above 150 K, which is four times smaller than the theoretically expected Tc, from the accepted mean field model [T. O. Wehling et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 216803 (2008)]. We show that taking into account an additional vibrational effect of out-of-plane phonon soft modes the gap may disappear from the measurements at temperatures much lower than the calculated Tc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied superconducting to normal state current-driven transitions in ferromagnetic Co/Co oxide/superconducting In stripes of widths ranging from 3 to 20 μm. The narrower stripes can be set up in a high or low critical current state by driving the magnetic domain structure of the thin Co film either in an almost uniform or nonuniform state of magnetization. In the latter the critical current transition is preceded by the development of normal domains, whose dynamics are determined by the Co magnetization pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricated nanoscale ferromagnetic (F) Nickel/superconducting (S) indium junctions which show that spin polarization effects on the contact conductance can be observed in a planar geometry. The data demonstrate that the Andreev–Saint-James [Sov. Phys. JETP 19, 1228 (1964) and J. Phys. (Paris) 25, 899 (1964)] electron-hole reflections at the F/S interface, which are sensitive to the polarization of the F side, dominate the conductance of the contact at low bias. The simplicity of fabrication makes these junctions appealing for use in multiterminal SF structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by F. Shehata and colleagues to a letter to the editor about their article "Placenta/birthweight ratio and perinatal outcome: a retrospective cohort analysis," in the 2011 issue is presented.