Search

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) increases preterm delivery (PTD) risk, but treatment trials showed mixed results in preventing PTD. Objectives: Determine, using individual participant data (IPD), whether BV treatment during pregnancy reduced PTD or prolonged time‐to‐delivery. Data Sources: Cochrane Systematic Review (2013), MEDLINE, EMBASE, journal searches, and searches (January 2013–September 2022) ("bacterial vaginosis AND pregnancy") of (i) clinicaltrials.gov; (ii) Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; (iii) World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform Portal; and (iv) Web of Science ("bacterial vaginosis"). Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies randomising asymptomatic pregnant individuals with BV to antibiotics or control, measuring delivery gestation. Extraction was from original data files. Bias risk was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Analysis used "one‐step" logistic and Cox random effect models, adjusting gestation at randomisation and PTD history; heterogeneity by I2. Subgroup analysis tested interactions with treatment. In sensitivity analyses, studies not providing IPD were incorporated by "multiple random‐donor hot‐deck" imputation, using IPD studies as donors. Results: There were 121 references (96 studies) with 23 eligible trials (11,979 participants); 13 studies (6915 participants) provided IPD; 12 (6115) were incorporated. Results from 9 (4887 participants) not providing IPD were imputed. Odds ratios for PTD for metronidazole and clindamycin versus placebo were 1.00 (95% CI 0.84, 1.17), I2 = 62%, and 0.59 (95% CI 0.42, 0.82), I2 = 0 before; and 0.95 (95% CI 0.81, 1.11), I2 = 59%, and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.12), I2 = 0, after imputation. Time‐to‐delivery did not differ from null with either treatment. Including imputed IPD, there was no evidence that either drug was more effective when administered earlier, or among those with a PTD history. Conclusions: Clindamycin, but not metronidazole, was beneficial in studies providing IPD, but after imputing data from missing IPD studies, treatment of BV during pregnancy did not reduce PTD, nor prolong pregnancy, in any subgroup or when started earlier in gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy vs standard wound dressing on surgical-site infection in obese women after Cesarean delivery: a randomized clinical trial. Prophylactic incisional negative pressure wound therapy reduces the risk of surgical site infection after caesarean section in obese women: a pragmatic randomised clinical trial. [Extracted from the article]

Preterm birth is the major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Infection/inflammation is responsible for a significant percentage of preterm birth, particularly at early gestations. A recent clinical recommendation by a guidelines group of the Danish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology advised against the use of clindamycin for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy to reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm birth based on lack of evidence of efficacy. We believe that the evidence for the use of clindamycin for this indication is robust and that this recommendation was reached erroneously on the basis of flawed inclusion criteria: the inclusion of an unpublished study with poorly diagnosed bacterial vaginosis and the exclusion of an important pivotal study on the use of clindamycin in early pregnancy for the prevention of preterm birth. Had these errors been corrected, the conclusions would have been different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: When complications arise in the delivery room, midwives and obstetricians operate at the interface of life and death, and in rare cases the infant or the mother suffers severe and possibly fatal injuries related to the birth. This descriptive study investigated the numbers and proportions of obstetricians and midwives involved in such traumatic childbirth and explored their experiences with guilt, blame, shame and existential concerns.Material and Methods: A mixed methods study comprising a national survey of Danish obstetricians and midwives and a qualitative interview study with selected survey participants.Results: The response rate was 59% (1237/2098), of which 85% stated that they had been involved in a traumatic childbirth. We formed five categories during the comparative mixed methods analysis: the patient, clinical peers, official complaints, guilt, and existential considerations. Although blame from patients, peers or official authorities was feared (and sometimes experienced), the inner struggles with guilt and existential considerations were dominant. Feelings of guilt were reported by 36-49%, and 50% agreed that the traumatic childbirth had made them think more about the meaning of life. Sixty-five percent felt that they had become a better midwife or doctor due to the traumatic incident.Conclusions: The results of this large, exploratory study suggest that obstetricians and midwives struggle with issues of blame, guilt and existential concerns in the aftermath of a traumatic childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) World Congress 2015 held in Vancouver, British Columbia is presented. Topics include the contributions of Professor Ingemar Ingemarsson on obstetrics, the role of technology on the improvements of obstetric care and the prevention strategies for preterm and post-term labor. The speakers at the event include Christina Anne Winter, Bo Jacobsson and Jan Stener Jorgensen.

The article discusses the highlights of the 2nd Nordic Congress on Obesity in Gynecology and Obstetrics (NOCOGO) held at Hindsgavl Conference Center in Middelfart, Denmark on August 27 to 29, 2015. The conference focused on the epidemiology of obesity globally and its influence on the pre-conceptional environment. Speakers included Philip James, Sven Cnattingius and Ronnie Lamont.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an eHealth intervention (interactive website) on pregnant women's ability to make an informed choice about Down syndrome screening.Material and Methods: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial with allocation to an intervention group and a control group in a ratio of 1:1. Subsequent subgroup analysis was conducted. Participants were recruited from 5 August 2013 to 25 April 2014 at Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Inclusion criteria were: pregnant women aged ≥18 years who were invited to participate in Down syndrome screening. Exclusion criteria were: high risk of abortion, psycho-socially vulnerable women, late referral, inability to speak Danish and women declining to participate. The primary outcome was informed choice about Down syndrome screening. The Multidimensional Measure of Informed Choice was used to assess whether the choice was informed or uninformed.Results: A total of 1150 participants were included in the study, of which 910 (79%) completed the questionnaire. Only a minority (30% of the women in the intervention group) actually used the website. There was no significant difference in the groups with respect to making an informed choice. The mean knowledge scores were significantly higher for those in the intervention group who used the intervention.Conclusions: An interactive website with information about Down syndrome screening had no direct effect on making an informed choice. However, the majority of the pregnant women who used the website were satisfied with the website and would recommend it to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The importance of the environment on the development of the fetus and infant throughout early life is increasingly recognised. To study such effects, biological samples and accurate data records are required. Based on multiple data collection from a healthy pregnant population, the Odense Childhood Cohort ( OCC) study aims to provide new information about the environmental impact on child health by sequential follow-up to 18 years of age among children born between 2010 and 2012. Methods A total of 2874 of 6707 pregnancies (43%) were recruited between January 2010 and December 2012. Three hundred seventy-four have since left the study, leaving 2500 active families. The non-participants act as controls contributing data through local registries. Biological material, questionnaires, and registry data were compiled. Anthropometric data and other physical data were collected. Results Two thousand five hundred families actively participated in the study with 2549 children. Sixty-four per cent of the fathers and 60% and 58% of the mothers, respectively, donated a blood sample at 10 and 28 weeks of gestation. On average, 69% completed questionnaires, 78% of the children were regularly examined, and had a blood sample taken (46%). The participating pregnant women differed from the non-participants in several respects: age, body mass index, smoking, parity, education, and ethnicity. The infants were comparable with respect to gender and mode of delivery. Conclusions The OCC provides material for in-depth analysis of environmental and genetic factors that are important for child health and disease. Registry data from non-participating women and infants are available which ensures a high degree of comparable data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few recent data on the prevalence of substance abuse among Danish pregnant women. During 2013, in the Region of Southern Denmark, a cross-sectional, anonymous, screening-based study was conducted among pregnant women attending for routine ultrasound scan at 12 weeks gestation. The women submitted a urine sample and completed a short questionnaire. Urine samples were tested for opiates, cannabis, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methadone, amphetamine and methamphetamine. Positive samples underwent repeat analysis for confirmation. Of 690 pregnant women, 88.1% participated. Overall, 3.6% of women had a positive urine sample confirmed by repeated analysis. The age distribution in women with positive samples did not differ from the entire cohort. Our findings indicate a larger prevalence than anticipated, and that a substantial number of pregnant women with substance abuse are not appropriately referred to the focused specialist center for such women at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In recent decades there have been advances in the options for prenatal screening. Screening programmes for Down syndrome are well established in many countries. It is important that pregnant women are well informed about the benefits and risks of screening. A variety of interventions has been introduced to support pregnant women in their choice of prenatal screening. Objective To summarize the literature using randomized controlled trials to compare the effects of different interventions to provide pregnant women with the information necessary to make an informed choice about screening for Down syndrome. Design Systematic review Methods A systematic search was performed using the PUBMED and EMBASE databases. The search terms included MeSH terms and free text and were combined by Boolean terms (AND, OR) with no restriction on language or time. Main outcome measures Knowledge, informed choice, patient satisfaction, anxiety, depression, conflict and worries. Results Twelve studies were included in the review. All were characterised by having one or more interventions designed to improve the level of information about prenatal screening for Down syndrome. A positive effect on knowledge and satisfaction from the information received was found in the majority of the studies. The studies were heterogeneous with respect to interventions, methodology and outcome measurements. Conclusions Interventions aimed at providing pregnant women with specific information about prenatal screening for Down syndrome can improve their ability to make an informed choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To study the effects of lifestyle intervention in pregnancy on weight retention 6 months postpartum among obese women from the 'Lifestyle in Pregnancy' (LiP) study, and to determine associations between breastfeeding with postpartum maternal weight. Design Six months postpartum follow up after a randomized controlled intervention trial. Setting Two university hospitals in Denmark. Population A total of 360 women with pregestational body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. Methods The intervention involved lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) during pregnancy. The control group received routine pregnancy care. Both groups received standard postnatal care. Main outcome measures Gestational weight gain, postpartum weight retention and breastfeeding. Results Follow up was completed in 238 women of whom 46% in the intervention group and 57% in the control group had retained weight 6 months postpartum ( p = 0.088). Women with gestational weight gain ≤9 kg, (recommended by the Institute of Medicine), retained less postpartum weight compared with those who exceeded 9 kg (median −0.7 vs. 1.5, p < 0.001). Ninety-two percent in both weight gain groups initiated breastfeeding. The number of breastfeeding mothers was higher among women with postpartum weight retention ≤5 kg compared with those with weight retention > 5 kg (94% vs. 85%, p = 0.034). Conclusions We could not detect sustained weight control at 6 months postpartum despite a lower gestational weight gain for obese women during pregnancy who received a lifestyle intervention rather than standard care. Women who adhered to gestational weight gain recommendations had significantly lower postpartum weight retention. Breastfeeding for 6 months was negatively associated with postpartum weight retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine whether a 3-day training course in motivational interviewing, which is an approach to helping people to change, could improve the communication skills of obstetric healthcare professionals in their interaction with obese pregnant women. Design Intervention study. Setting The Region of Southern Denmark. Methods Eleven obstetric healthcare professionals working with obese pregnant women underwent a 3-day course in motivational interviewing techniques and were assessed before and after training to measure the impact on their overall performance as well as the effect on specific behavioral techniques observed during interviews. Findings With a few exceptions, the participants changed their behavior appropriate to the motivational interviewing technique. The participants made more interventions towards the principles of motivational interviewing (adherent and nonadherent interventions). Furthermore, the participants asked fewer closed and more open questions before training in motivational interview. In the assessment of proficiency and competency, most of the participants scored higher after the training in motivational interviewing. Conclusions Training in motivational interviewing improves healthcare professionals' proficiency and competency when communicating with obese pregnant women, albeit that the effect was not universal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the experience of women with a pre-pregnant BMI >30 kg/m2, in their encounters with healthcare professionals during pregnancy. Design Qualitative study using a phenomenological methodology approach. Setting Face-to-face interviews with pregnant women in their own home who were referred from their general practitioner to specialist antenatal follow-up at their local hospital. Sample Sixteen women with pre-pregnant BMI >30 kg/m2. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews. Participant's experiences of their encounters with health care professionals were recorded verbatim, transcribed and analysed using a phenomenological approach . Results Two main themes were identified, an accusatorial response from healthcare professionals and a lack of advice and helpful information on how being obese and pregnant might affect the women's health and that of their child. Conclusions Pregnant women with obesity may experience prejudice from healthcare professionals. These women felt they were treated with a lack of respect, an accusatorial response, and the feeling that information which could have been helpful was not forthcoming. Communication between obese pregnant woman and healthcare professionals appears to be lacking. Improved training in communication skills, less judgemental behaviour and better dissemination of information from healthcare professionals working with pregnant women with obesity are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the First Nordic Conference on Obesity in Gynecology and Obstetrics (NOCOGO) that was held in Billund, Denmark from October 22-24, 2012. The aim of the conference was to increase interaction between obstetricians, gynecologists, nurses and midwives regarding to obesity due to its declining global nature. Several delegates nd speakers have participated in the conference including Pernille T. Jensen, Ronnie Lamont and Christina Vinter.

I Sir, i We commend the study by Hasperhoven et al.,1 which demonstrates a lower incidence of early-onset group B streptococcal (GBS) disease (EOGBSD) using screening-based, compared with risk-based protocols, albeit that the usage of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) under both policies was similar. Group B streptococcal immunisation of pregnant women for the prevention of early and late onset group B streptococcal infection of the neonate as well as adult disease. [Extracted from the article]

Hypovitaminosis D is common in pregnancy. To systematically review the evidence on vitamin D-dependent pregnancy outcomes, PubMed and Embase were searched for randomized control trials, cohort and case-control studies. In randomized control trials ( n = 7), larger doses of vitamin D resulted in higher 25-hydroxylated vitamin D (25OHD) levels ( n = 6), increased maternal weight gain ( n = 1), and fewer classical vitamin D deficiency symptoms ( n = 1). In observational studies ( n = 32), lower vitamin D intake, or low 25OHD-levels, were associated with adverse fertility parameters ( n = 2), preeclampsia ( n = 5), gestational diabetes or higher blood glucose ( n = 6), bacterial vaginosis ( n = 4), primary cesarean section ( n = 1), none ( n = 3) or a few days' ( n = 2) shorter gestation, and postpartum depression ( n = 1). Studies with few participants having low 25OHD did not identify an association to preeclampsia ( n = 5) or gestational diabetes ( n = 2). Increased odds of pregnancy-associated breast cancer with 25OHD >25.8 nmol/L were observed ( n = 1). In conclusion, an effect of vitamin D on several pregnancy outcomes is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy on the extraskeletal health of the offspring has become a 'hot topic' with a potential for cost-beneficial prevention. The objective of this study was to systematically review the level I and II evidence. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched using the MeSH terms 'vitamin D' AND 'pregnancy' until 1 January 2012. The search was limited to randomized controlled trials (evidence level I) and observational studies (evidence level II) in humans and in the English language. Papers reporting on vitamin D supplementation in combination with other supplements, or not reporting on 25OHD or outcomes of the offspring were excluded. Six randomized controlled trials and 24 observational studies were finally included. In randomized controlled studies, vitamin D supplementation resulted in increased birthweight in one study, but showed no effect in five other studies. In cohort and case-control studies, higher vitamin D intake, or higher 25OHD, was associated with increased birthweight in large studies only, and modified by vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and by race (U-shaped in Caucasians in one unconfirmed study). The risks of HIV mother-to-child transmission, rhinitis symptoms and eczema were lower. Data were conflicting on the effect on respiratory infections and wheezing, whereas U-shaped associations to inhalant allergen-specific IgE at five years and to schizophrenia were reported in unconfirmed studies. The risk of type 1 diabetes at 15 years was lower or unchanged. It is concluded that observational studies suggest an effect of vitamin D on several outcomes. U-Shaped associations warrant caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Approximately 1-2% of women suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) postnatally. This review aims to elucidate how women at risk can be identified . Methods. A systematic search of the published literature was carried out using the MEDLINE database (November 2003 to 29 October 2010) with both MeSH terms and free text. Thirty-one studies were considered appropriate for qualitative synthesis. Articles were included on the basis of (a) publication pertaining to PTSD following childbirth, (b) study carried out in Western Europe and (c) publication written in English. The results were primarily based on observational studies. The literature was thoroughly read and results were compiled. Furthermore, a novel quality rating system was employed to minimize the impact of bias. Results. Subjective distress in labor and obstetrical emergencies were the most important risk factors. Infant complications, low support during labor and delivery, psychological difficulties in pregnancy, previous traumatic experiences, and obstetrical emergencies were identified as risk factors. Conclusions. We have identified factors both strongly associated and non-associated with PTSD following childbirth. While the literature is limited by methodological shortcomings, a hypothesis regarding the development of PTSD is outlined, and recommendations with respect to screening and future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Lamont R, Sobel J, Carrington D, Mazaki-Tovi S, Kusanovic J, Vaisbuch E, Romero R. Varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox) infection in pregnancy. BJOG 2011; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2011.02983.x. Congenital varicella syndrome, maternal varicella-zoster virus pneumonia and neonatal varicella infection are associated with serious fetomaternal morbidity and, not infrequently, mortality. Vaccination against varicella-zoster virus can prevent the disease, and outbreak control limits the exposure of pregnant women to the infectious agent. Maternal varicella-zoster immunoglobulin administration before rash development, with or without antiviral medication, can modify the progression of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Preterm delivery remains a substantial healthcare problem, complicating 5-10% of pregnancies, and is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Few effective methods to prevent preterm delivery have been identified to date. Objective. To review systematically the evidence from randomized controlled trials with respect to the hypothesis that increased consumption of marine n-3 fatty acids in pregnancy can prevent preterm birth. Setting. Electronic searches of the following databases were performed: PubMed (1995-2009), SCOPUS including EMBASE (1995-2009), and Cochrane Library. A combination of key words and text words related to fish oil, marine n-3 fatty acids, fish consumption, preterm birth, preterm delivery, prematurity, pregnancy duration, gestational age, parturition, delivery and pregnancy were used. Methods. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of relevance was conducted. Three trials were included, comprising 921 women for whom data on gestational age and 1 187 women for whom data on birthweight were available. Results. Overall, 46 (8.9%) of 516 women who received n-3 fatty acids gave birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation, compared with 66 (16.3%) of 405 in the control group [relative risk 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40-0.93; p<0.05]. Data on delivery before 34 completed weeks showed the same trend (relative risk 0.32; 95% CI 0.09-0.95). Overall, the mean birthweight was 71g higher in women who received n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy (95% CI 4.73-138.12; p<0.05). The rate of low birthweight was not statistically significantly different between the intervention and the control groups. The mean gestational age at delivery was significantly higher by 4.5days in the intervention group supplemented with n-3 fatty acids compared with placebo (95% CI 2.3-6.8; p<0.05). Conclusions. Marine n-3 fatty acids administered in pregnancy reduce the rate of preterm birth and increase birthweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the association between unexplained elevated maternal serum β-Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in the second trimester of pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcome. Methods In a case-controlled study of 3463 women who opted for second-trimester serum screening for Down syndrome, 142 were found to have a serum β-HCG of ≥3.5 multiples of the median (MoM), 56 of whom had a serum β-HCG of ≥5.0 MoM. These women were compared with a control group of women with serum β-HCG within the 95% confidence interval around the median. Results In the elevated β-HCG group (≥5 MoM) significantly more babies required admission to the special care baby unit ( p = 0.02) and were small for gestational age (SGA) ( p = 0.03). The mean birth weight was also significantly lower in the group with elevated β-HCG. Women with a serum β-HCG of ≥5, ≥6, ≥7 or ≥8 MoM were associated with SGA babies in 40, 44, 64 and 86% respectively. All babies born to the six women with β-HCG of 8.75-24.1 MoM were SGA. Conclusion Increased surveillance is necessary in pregnancies where the maternal serum β-HCG in the second trimester is inexplicably elevated to ≥5 MoM. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor about long-term eating disorder, Bartter's syndrome, and pregnancy.

We investigated the possibility of preterm birth misclassification as a determinant of variation in its reported rates. Using a database of 497,105 deliveries from 17 hospitals, the best estimate of gestational age made at delivery and entered into the database at that time was recalculated from the menstrual dates and mid-trimester ultrasound scan. The recalculated completed weeks of gestation at delivery was compared with that made at birth. Calculation of estimated gestational age varied between hospitals due to inconsistencies in‘rounding’ and‘truncating’ the weeks of gestation at delivery. This resulted in preterm birth misclassification rates of up to 10.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 7th and 13th Study Groups of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists met in 1977 and 1985, respectively, no meeting of this magnitude has convened to discuss the problems of spontaneous preterm labour and delivery and the associated fetomaternal mortality and morbidity. In the 17 years or so since that time, advances have been made in our understanding of the mechanisms of labour, the role of infection, the benefit of antepartum corticosteroids and the development of safer more specific tocolytics. In the future, an understanding of the genetic risk of spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth is essential, particularly with respect to the predisposition to produce potentially damaging pro-inflammatory cytokines. The examination of the tissue damage will require pathologists specifically trained in perinatal pathology if the aetiology is to be ascertained and future management tailored to the risks. A greater understanding of fetomaternal immunology and response to antigen exposure in pregnancy may help us to understand which fetomaternal pairs are at greatest risk of responding by delivering preterm, with greater or lesser tissue damage than others with similar risk. Specifically, the relation between spontaneous preterm labour and proteinuric pre-eclampsia with their common immunology, inflammatory response and tissue damage leading to either spontaneous preterm labour or iatrogenic preterm birth will need to be addressed. This meeting has been very clinically and obstetrically orientated, in future we will need to involve epidemiologists, neonatologists, microbiologists, genito-urinary medicine physicians, immunologists, geneticists, biochemists, physiologists and endocrinologists. Although spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth are the major causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity in the developed world, the definition and management protocols for spontaneous preterm labour varies from unit to unit and country to country. A process has already begun, hopefully fuelled by this meeting and those attending, to develop an international consensus on definitions and evidence-based practical guidelines on the management of spontaneous preterm labour. Perhaps in the longer term it may be possible to influence standards of care, outcome measures and training across international boundaries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The perfect tocolytic agent, which is completely safe for both the mother and fetus and, which will inhibit uterine contractions and stop preterm labour in every case does not exist and the search continues. Recently, research into a new group of tocolytic agents (the oxytocic antagonists) has led to the introduction of a new licensed drug, atosiban. Since the early 1950s, modifications of the oxytocin molecule have resulted in many analogues and antagonists, though initially none emerged as potentially useful drugs. Further modifications resulted in full uterotonic antagonism in animal models before an analogue was found that inhibited vasopressin-stimulated uterine contractions in non-pregnant healthy women. In vitro and animal models suggested the molecule was fully antagonistic, although it was found to be only partially agonistic in women. Further developments led to two modified oxytocin molecules with higher receptor affinity for human myometrium, both of which lacked agonism in humans. The analogue, atosiban, was found to be more potent and so was chosen for clinical evaluation in dysmenorrhoea and preterm labour. The first clinical reports were open label, observational pilot studies. Randomised, double-blind, phase II placebo-controlled studies followed showing that atosiban was significantly more effective than placebo with very few side effects. Dose-response studies and phase III studies in which study or placebo groups could use alternative tocolytic agents also suggested that atosiban was an effective tocolytic agent with very few adverse events. The recent worldwide comparative study of atosiban versus different beta-agonists represents the largest and most strictly controlled study of tocolytics ever published. Atosiban was found to be at least as effective as the beta-agonists as a tocolytic agent, but significantly less likely to result in maternal cardiovascular side effects or the need to discontinue therapy as a result of unacceptable side effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The association between infection and spontaneous preterm labour is now well established and thought to be responsible for preterm birth in up to 40% of cases. Preterm labour that is due to infection is refractory to the use of tocolytic agents. So the knowledge that infection may be the cause is unhelpful once a woman is admitted in spontaneous preterm labour, since by that time there may be irreversible changes in the uterine cervix, which renders futile those attempts to inhibit the process. It would be much more logical to use the association between infection and spontaneous preterm labour to identify a group of women at risk and to intervene using antibiotic prophylaxis. It is important to record, that the earlier in gestation at which abnormal genital tract colonisation is detected, the greater is the risk of an adverse outcome. For example, abnormal genital tract flora at 26–32 weeks gestation is associated with preterm birth with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.4 to 2, whereas abnormal genital tract flora at 7–16 weeks gestation carries an OR of 5 to 7.5. Intervention studies have used different antibiotics in different dosage regimes by different routes of administration to patients of differing risks at different gestational ages. Not surprisingly this has led to differing results. If intervention is to be successful, the antibiotics chosen should be active against bacterial vaginosis or bacterial vaginosis-related organisms and should be used early in pregnancy in those women with the greatest degree of abnormal genital tract flora. While there is logic in using intravaginal antibiotics to deliver a heavy antibiotic load to the vagina where heavy abnormal colonisation exists, there is also logic in considering systemic antibiotics to eradicate those organisms, which have already gained access to the decidua. It may be that the greatest chance of benefit would exist if both routes of administration were combined. Yet no study has evaluated the combination of both intravaginal and systemic antibiotics to eradicate abnormal genital tract flora for the prevention of preterm birth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Preterm birth is the major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity in the developed world. Where there are no contraindications to their use, tocolytics can improve neonatal survival rates by approximately 3% per day between 23 and 27 weeks gestation with a concomitant reduction in morbidity. The ultimate aim of tocolytic therapy is to prolong pregnancy until growth and maturation is complete, but even short-term delay may enable the administration of antepartum glucocorticoids to reduce hyaline membrane disease or to arrange transfer to a center with neonatal intensive care facilities. Both of these have been shown to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity. Until recently, none of the currently used tocolytics, whether licensed or unlicensed, were developed specifically for the inhibition of preterm labor and consequently, they exhibit various potentially serious side-effects. As a result of the recent licensing of the oxytocin antagonist, atosiban, developed for the treatment of preterm labor and due to its high utero-specificity, obstetricians have experienced an advance in their options for the management of spontaneous preterm labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without this information, no comment can be made on species-specific function with respect to the percentage of I Lactobacillus i strains that produce H SB 2 sb O SB 2 sb , bacteriocins or lactic acid, including the ratio of the l- and d-isomers of lactic acid, and whether the lactic acid molecules are protonated (i.e. with non-dissociated H SP + sp , giving a neutrally charged ion) or are lactate anions (i.e. with dissociated H SP + sp , giving a negatively charged ion). The protonated form of lactic acid (which predominates at a pH of <3.9) has antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties compared with the lactate anion, which has no bacteriocidal or virucidal activity.[2] Currently, approximately 180 species of I Lactobacilli i have been identified, most of which are used in the food industry, and some of which have been isolated in the human vagina. The role of lactic acid production by probiotic Lactobacillus species in vaginal health. [Extracted from the article]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Blame and guilt after traumatic childbirth - but what next?" by M. Cauldwell and colleagues.

The article discusses vaginal markers of preterm birth. The etiology of spontaneous preterm labor (SPTL) and preterm birth (PTB) is multifactorial, but there is overwhelming evidence that infection is an important factor in up to 40% of cases. SPTL is either a physiological process occurring too early in pregnancy or a pathological process following an abnormal signal. A number of studies have examined the use of antibiotics for the prevention of SPTL and PTB due to infection though they have used different antibiotics in different dosages, regimes, and routes of administration to women with varying degrees of risk and, not surprisingly, different outcomes.

Comments on the study "The Accuracy of Various Tests for Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) in Predicting Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review," by H. Hones et al. Criticism on the complexities of the methods used in the study; Discussion of gas-liquid chromatography for diagnosing BV; Two important factors that were not considered as part of the analysis.