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Objective: Limited evidence suggests a potentially increased risk of allergic conditions in offspring born to women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In a large population-based study, we aimed to determine if children born to mothers with SLE have an increased risk of allergic conditions compared to children born to mothers without SLE.Methods: Using the Offspring of SLE Mothers Registry, we identified children born live to mothers with SLE and their matched controls, and ascertained the number of allergic conditions (asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis) based on ≥1 hospitalization or ≥1 or 2 physician(s) visit(s) with a relevant diagnostic code. We adjusted for maternal age, education, race/ethnicity, obstetrics complications, calendar year of birth, sex of the child, and maternal medication.Results: There were 509 women with SLE who had 719 children, while 5,824 matched controls had 8,493 children. The mean ± SD followup period was 9.1 ± 5.8 years. Compared to controls, more children born to mothers with SLE had evidence of allergic conditions (43.9% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 40.4-47.6] versus 38.1% [95% CI 37.0-39.1]). In multivariate analysis (n = 9,212), children born to mothers with SLE had an increased risk of allergic conditions versus control children (odds ratio 1.35 [95% CI 1.13-1.61]).Conclusion: Compared to children from the general population, children born to women with SLE may have an increased risk of allergic conditions. Genetics, shared environmental exposures, as well as in utero exposure to maternal autoantibodies and cytokines may mediate this increased risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective There are few precise or recent estimates of the risk or causes of stillbirths in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thus, we undertook the present study to examine causes of stillbirths in mothers with SLE versus those without SLE. Methods The Offspring of SLE Mothers Registry (OSLER) is a large population-based cohort, identified through Quebec's health care databases (1989-2009), including all women who had ≥1 hospitalization for delivery after SLE diagnosis, and a randomly selected control group of women matched for age and year of delivery. We identified stillbirths and ascertained the cause of death as indicated on death certificates. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the risk of stillbirth in women with SLE versus controls. Results In our cohort, 509 women with SLE had 729 births, including 9 stillbirths, while 5,829 matched controls had 8,541 births, including 47 stillbirths. We observed more stillbirths in mothers with SLE than in controls (1.24% versus 0.55%, difference 0.69% [95% CI 0.03, 1.88]). Women with SLE had an increased risk of stillbirth compared to controls (adjusted OR 2.13 [95% CI 1.02, 4.45]). We also observed a trend toward more stillbirths due to placenta-mediated pregnancy complications in mothers with SLE than in controls (44% [95% CI 14, 79] versus 15% [95% CI 6, 28]). Conclusion Compared to women from the general population, women with SLE have an increased risk of stillbirth. Stillbirths in women with SLE might be more often caused by placenta-mediated pregnancy complications compared to stillbirths in mothers without SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In utero exposure to maternal antibodies and cytokines are potential risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The aim of this study was to determine whether children born to mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk of ASD compared to children born to mothers without SLE. Methods The study population was derived from the Offspring of SLE Mothers Registry (OSLER), a large population-based cohort identified through healthcare databases in Quebec (1989-2009) comprising all women who had ≥1 hospitalization for a delivery (stillbirth or live birth) after SLE diagnosis. As general population controls, a randomly selected group of women without SLE was matched ≥4:1 to the mothers with SLE for age and year of delivery. Children born live to mothers with SLE and those born live to matched controls were identified, and a recorded diagnosis of ASD was ascertained for each child. Multivariate analyses were performed to adjust for parents' demographic characteristics, sex, birth order of the child, maternal comorbidities, and obstetric complications. Results In total, 509 women with SLE had 719 children, and 5,824 matched controls had 8,493 children. Children born to women with SLE were more frequently found to have a diagnosis of ASD compared to controls (frequency of recorded ASDs 1.4% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.8-2.5] versus 0.6% [95% CI 0.5-0.8]), a difference of 0.8% (95% CI 0.1-1.9). The mean age at ASD diagnosis was younger in offspring of SLE mothers (mean 3.8 years, 95% CI 1.8-5.8) compared to offspring of controls (mean 5.7 years, 95% CI 4.9-6.5). In primary multivariate analysis, SLE offspring had a substantially increased risk of ASD compared to controls (odds ratio 2.19, 95% CI 1.09-4.39). Conclusion Compared to children from the general population, children born to women with SLE have an increased risk of ASD, although, in absolute terms, it represents a rare outcome. These hypothesis-generating data provide direction for additional studies of maternal autoimmunity and ASD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the feasibility of cancer-related fatigue mechanisms and the potential effects of walking exercise program in people suffering from fatigue and advanced cancer. The study shows the effectiveness of pedometer-facilitated walking intervention in mitigating cancer fatigue. It conclude the necessity of 100 people to take part in a full strength trial.

Objectives: to estimate the extent to which a case-management intervention for persons newly discharged into the community following an acute stroke effected a change in stroke outcome in comparison with usual care.Design: a re-analysis of stratified, balanced, randomised clinical trial.Setting: five university-affiliated acute-care hospitals in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Participants: a total of 190 persons (mean age 70 years) returning home directly from the acute-care hospital following a first or recurrent stroke with a need for health-care supervision post-discharge because of low function, co-morbidity or isolation.Intervention: for 6 weeks following discharge a nurse case manager delivered, depending on need, over 50 different nursing interventions (range 2–15 per person), which targeted physical, emotional and psychological impairments, role participation restrictions and health perception.Measurements: seven of the SF-36 subscales were used to measure the targeted constructs, at the post-intervention and 6 month evaluations. Seven binary response variables were created with a change of 10 points the criterion for individual response. Generalised estimating equations, equivalent to a logistic regression for multiple outcomes, were used.Results: the odds of responding to one or more outcomes was 41% greater in the intervention group than in the control group [odds ratio (OR): 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–1.79].Conclusion: an analysis considering the complexity of the intervention and outcomes targeted indicated effectiveness of the nurse case-management post-stroke, whereas the traditional one outcome analysis did not. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on a study to assess the time interval to surgery from diagnosis among Quebec women with breast cancer and to examine the influence on waiting time of age, pattern of care and cancer stage. Methods; Results; Interpretation.

Presents a study which explores the rising costs of medications and calls for drug policy reform in Quebec. Efforts to determine the impact of introducing prescription drug cost-sharing on use of drugs among elderly persons and welfare recipients and to determine rates of emergency department visits and adverse events associated with reduction in drug use; Design and setting; Participants; Conclusions.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Female mouse fetal loss mediated by maternal autoantibody," by Wang.L. and colleagues in the June 4, 2012 issue.