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Congenital uterine anomalies are associated with late miscarriage and spontaneous preterm birth.Our aim was 1) to determine the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in each type of congenital uterine anomaly, and 2) to assess the performance of quantitative fetal fibronectin and cervical length measurement by transvaginal ultrasound in asymptomatic women with congenital uterine anomalies for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at34 and37 weeks of gestation.This was a retrospective cohort of women with congenital uterine anomalies asymptomatic for spontaneous preterm birth, from 4 tertiary referral centers in the United Kingdom (2001-2016). Congenital uterine anomalies were categorized into fusion (unicornuate, didelphic, and bicornuate uteri) or resorption defects (septate, with or without resection, and arcuate uteri), based on prepregnancy diagnosis. All women underwent serial transvaginal ultrasound cervical length assessment in the second trimester (16 to 24 weeks' gestation); a subgroup underwent quantitative fetal fibronectin testing from 18 weeks' gestation. We investigated the relationship between congenital uterine anomalies and predictive test performance for spontaneous preterm birth at34 and37 weeks' gestation.A total of 319 women were identified as having congenital uterine anomalies in our high-risk population. Of the women, 7% (23/319) delivered spontaneously at34 weeks' gestation and 18% (56/319) at37 weeks' gestation. Rates of spontaneous preterm birth by type were as follows: 26% (7/27) for unicornuate, 21% (7/34) for didelphic, 16% (31/189) for bicornuate, 13% (7/56) for septate, and 31% (4/13) for arcuate. In all, 80% (45/56) of women who had spontaneous preterm birth at37 weeks did not develop a short cervical length (25 mm) during the surveillance period (16-24 weeks). The diagnostic accuracy of short cervical length had a low sensitivity (20.3) for predicting spontaneous preterm birth at34 weeks. Cervical length had an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.64) and 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.64) for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at34 and37 weeks, respectively. The area under the curve for cervical length to predict spontaneous preterm birth at34 weeks was 0.48 for fusion defects (95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.57) but 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.91) for women with resorption defects. Overall quantitative fetal fibronectin had an area under the curve of 0.63 (95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.77) and 0.58 (95% confidence interval, 0.49- 0.68) for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at34 and37 weeks, respectively. The area under the curve for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at37 weeks with quantitative fetal fibronectin for fusion defects was 0.52 (95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.63) but 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.95) for women with resorption defects. Results were similar when women with intervention were excluded.The commonly used markers cervical length and quantitative fetal fibronectin have utility in prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in resorption congenital uterine defects but not in fusion defects. This is contrary to findings in other high-risk populations. These findings need to be accounted for when planning antenatal care, and have potential implications for predictive tests used in spontaneous preterm birth surveillance and intervention.

Diagnosis of McArdle disease is frequently delayed by many years following the first presentation of symptoms to a health professional. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of misdiagnosis in delaying diagnosis of McArdle disease. The frequency of misdiagnosis, duration of diagnostic delay, categories of misdiagnoses and inappropriate medical interventions were assessed in 50 genetically confirmed patients. The results demonstrated a high frequency of misdiagnosis (90%, n = 45/50) most commonly during childhood years (67%; n = 30/45) compared with teenage years and adulthood (teenage: n = 7/45; adult n = 5/45; not known n = 3/45). The correct diagnosis of McArdle disease was rarely made before adulthood (median age of diagnosis 33 years). Thirty-one patients (62%) reported having received more than one misdiagnosis; the most common were “growing pains” (40%, n = 20) and “laziness/being unfit” (46%, n = 23). A psychiatric/psychological misdiagnosis was significantly more common in females than males (females 6/20; males 1/30; p

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the sodium alginate preparation, Gaviscon Advance, with placebo in the relief of symptoms of reflux oesophagitis. This was a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, multicentre study conducted at 13 GP centres in the UK. Patients aged between 18 and 70 years, who had experienced symptoms of reflux oesophagitis within the previous 24 h, and on two other occasions within the previous week, were recruited into the study. Patients were evaluated at baseline, and then reassessed after two and four weeks of treatment with sodium alginate or placebo, for symptoms of reflux oesophagitis in the previous 24 h. Patients were required to fill out a diary card twice daily, from which frequency and severity of symptoms were assessed, and the percentage of symptom-free days and nights calculated. Of the 100 patients recruited into the study, 98 received medication (safety population; placebo, n = 50; sodium alginate, n = 48) and 94 were eligible for inclusion in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population (placebo, n = 48; sodium alginate, n = 46). For this population, sodium alginate was assessed as significantly superior by both investigators and patients at week two (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively) and at week four (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Significantly more patients in the safety population on placebo withdrew from the study (40%) compared with sodium alginate (21%; p = 0.04), due primarily to lack of effect and adverse events. The sodium alginate preparation demonstrated a superior efficacy compared with placebo, which was achieved in a more acceptable volume of medication than a previous standard preparation, Liquid Gaviscon. The reduced dosage volume of the 'new' preparation (Gaviscon Advance) may be expected to improve patient compliance, and thereby increase treatment efficacy.

Screening of the newborn for cystic fibrosis by measurement of immunoreactive trypsin has been undertaken on alternate weeks in Wales and the West Midlands for five years since 1985 to evaluate the possible clinical benefits of early diagnosis. Patients detected by screening and those diagnosed by clinical symptoms alone were assessed annually for differences in clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical variables. Fifty eight infants not considered to be at risk of cystic fibrosis (they did not present with meconium ileus and do not have a sibling with cystic fibrosis) have been detected by screening and they have been compared with 44 children who were diagnosed clinically. This latter group includes nine children whose screening was negative but who were recognised subsequently to have cystic fibrosis. The mean age at diagnosis of the screened group was significantly lower than that of the group diagnosed clinically. Excluding admissions for diagnostic tests for cystic fibrosis, the screened group spent a significantly shorter time in hospital during the first year of life. The results of all other comparisons made between the screened group and those diagnosed clinically were similar up to the age of 4 years.