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Objective: The birth certificate variable obstetric estimate of gestational age (GA) has not been previously validated against GA based on estimated date of delivery from medical records., Study Design: We estimated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for preterm delivery (<37 weeks' gestation) based on obstetric estimate using estimated date of delivery-based GA as the gold standard. Trained abstractors obtained the estimated date of delivery from the prenatal record (64.8% in New York City, and 94.6% in Vermont), or, when not available, from the hospital delivery record for 2 population-based samples: 586 live births delivered in New York City and 649 live births delivered in Vermont during 2009. Weights were applied to account for nonresponse and sampling design., Results: In New York City, the preterm delivery rate based on estimated date of delivery was 9.7% (95% CI, 7.6-12.4) and 8.2% (95% CI, 6.3-10.6) based on obstetric estimate; in Vermont, it was 6.8% (95% CI, 5.4-8.4) based on estimated date of delivery and 6.3% (95% CI, 5.1-7.8) based on obstetric estimate. In New York City, sensitivity of obstetric estimate-based preterm delivery was 82.5% (95% CI, 69.4-90.8), specificity 98.1% (95% CI, 96.4-99.1), positive predictive value 98.0% (95% CI, 95.2-99.2), and negative predictive value 98.8% (95% CI, 99.6-99.9). In Vermont, sensitivity of obstetric estimate-based preterm delivery was 93.8% (95% CI, 81.8-98.1), specificity 99.6% (95% CI, 98.5-99.9), positive predictive value 100%, and negative predictive value 100%., Conclusion: Obstetric estimate-based preterm delivery had excellent specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Sensitivity was moderate in New York City and excellent in Vermont. These results suggest obstetric estimate-based preterm delivery from the birth certificate is useful for the surveillance of preterm delivery., (Published by Mosby, Inc.)

Aphids are among the rare organisms that can change their reproductive mode across their life cycle. During spring and summer they reproduce clonally and efficiently by parthenogenesis. At the end of summer aphids perceive the shortening of day length which triggers the production of sexual individuals - males and oviparous females - that will mate and lay overwintering cold-resistant eggs. Recent large scale transcriptomic studies allowed the discovery of transcripts and functions such as nervous and hormonal signaling involved in the early steps of detection and transduction of the photoperiodic signal. Nevertheless these experiments were performed under controlled conditions when the photoperiod was the only varying parameter. To characterize the response of aphids under natural conditions, aphids were reared outdoor both in summer and autumn and material was collected to compare their transcriptomic profile using a cDNA microarray containing around 7000 transcripts. Statistical analyses revealed that close to 5% of these transcripts (367) were differentially expressed at two developmental stages of the process in response to the autumnal environmental conditions. Functional classification of regulated transcripts confirmed the putative contribution of the neuro-endocrine system in the process. Furthermore, these experiments revealed the regulation of transcripts involved in juvenile hormone synthesis and signaling pathway, confirming the key role played by these molecules in the reproductive mode switch. Aphids placed under outdoor conditions were confronted to a range of abiotic factors such as temperature fluctuations which was confirmed by the differential expression of an important proportion of heat shock protein transcripts between the two seasons. Finally, this original approach completed the understanding of genetic programs involved in aphid phenotypic plasticity., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bone-derived cells were cultured in three-dimensional reconstituted matrices made of type I collagen or type I collagen chondroitin-4-sulfate. As observed by microscope, their characteristics were as follows: The cells deposited a faint extracellular matrix mainly composed of type I collagen. In the collagen-chondroitin-sulfate sponge fibers, a calcification process, which involved the deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals, was demonstrated. Mineralization occurred only in collagen chondroitin sulfate sponge fibers when seeded with bone-derived cells and was not seen with nonosteogenic cells, such as gingival fibroblasts. Gla protein was intracellularly visualized in both types of sponges seeded with bone-derived cells while an extracellular secretion was seen only in the collagen chondroitin sulfate sponge fibers where calcification occurred. These results suggest that collagen chondroitin sulfate promotes in vitro mineralization of three-dimensional collagen matrices when seeded with bone-derived cells.

The authors describe 21 injuries to the ureter after pelvic surgery: 13 fistulae including 2 bilateral ones, 6 stenoses of the ureter and 2 other traumata. 16 followed colpohysterectomy with removal of lymph glands radically performed. They point out that stenoses often regress after extended surgery and how valuable the psoas hitch is. They prefer to wait before attempting to repair fistulae after radical hysterectomy because some recover spontaneously and poor results follow early cure when the tissues are septic.