Maternal arrhythmia and perinatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether arrhythmia in the setting of maternal cardiac disease (MCD) affects perinatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with MCD who delivered during 2008 to 2013. Perinatal outcomes among women with an arrhythmia were compared with those without. RESULTS: Among 143 women, 36 (25%) had an arrhythmia. Those with an arrhythmia were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery (64 vs 43%, P<0.05) and required fewer operative vaginal births (8 vs 27%, P=0.02). Pregnancies were more likely to be complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (17 vs 5%, P<0.05), although there were no differences in the rate of small for gestational age. The risk of IUGR remained increased after controlling for confounding (adjusted odds ratio 6.98, 95% confidence interval 1.59 to 30.79, P=0.01). Two cases of placental abruption were identified among mothers with arrhythmia while none were identified in the controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with arrhythmias were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Our data suggest that these pregnancies were an increased risk for IUGR.

Genotypic characteristics of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from hospital wastewater treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

AIMS: To investigate Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a hospital wastewater treatment plant (HWTP), focusing on enzyme-based mechanisms of ß-lactams resistance and the genetic relatedness among isolates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-one Ps. aeruginosa strains recovered from a HWTP were identified by amplification of 16S rRNA gene. ß-lactamase production was screened by disc diffusion, CHROMagar extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) and ß-lactamase strips. ß-lactamase and ESBL producing isolates were investigated by PCR for the presence of ESBL, metallo-ß-lactamase and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase encoding genes. Thirty-four isolates (83%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic belonging to three or more classes. Out of these 34 isolates, 28 (82%) were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) and 6 (18%) extensively drug-resistant (XDR). Genetic relatedness by Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus sequence-PCR and Multilocus sequence typing analysis showed 20 distinct profiles and 15 sequencing types respectively. Clonal Complex 244 (CC244) shows the pathogenic potential of this clone carrying MDR and XDR strains from clinical, environmental and hospital waste sources. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that treatment facilities for hospital wastewater can stimulate the increase of antimicrobial resistance bacteria and genes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The great genetic diversity of Ps. aeruginosa recovered from HWTP constantly released into aquatic systems allow the spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms and genes.

Perinatal outcomes in euploid pregnancies with 'double-positive' first trimester prenatal screening for trisomy 18 and 21.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether women who screened positive for both trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 21 (T21) yet had euploid karyotypes were at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of women who had first trimester aneuploidy screening. Double-positive subjects had risks greater than screening cutoffs for T21 and T18 and confirmed euploid karyotypes. Singleton subjects were matched 1:2 by maternal age to controls with normal screening. Perinatal outcomes were investigated using t-tests and χ(2)-tests; statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RESULT: Of 9733 women who had first trimester screening, 33 euploid pregnancies screened positive for both T21 and T18. Compared with controls, these study subjects were more likely to have abnormalities identified by prenatal ultrasounds, including renal, fetal membrane and fluid, as well as multiple anomalies (P=0.01). In addition, double-positive subjects had a lower mean gestational age at birth (P=0.02) and lower mean birth weight (P=0.03) than controls. Maternal outcomes were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Pregnancies with double false-positive first trimester aneuploidy screening were associated with pregnancy/fetal abnormalities.

Evidence for the participation of interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 1) in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE: Rupture of membranes is thought to result from the effects of physical forces in localized areas of the membranes weakened by the degradation of structural collagens. Matrix metalloproteinases are enzymes that degrade extracellular matrix components and have been implicated in membrane rupture. The objective of this study was to determine whether spontaneous rupture of membranes is associated with a change in the amniotic fluid concentration of interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 1 [MMP-1]), a major collagenase. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine MMP-1 concentrations in amniotic fluid from 353 women in the following categories: (1) term with intact membranes not in labor and in labor, (2) preterm labor who delivered at term, (3) preterm labor who delivered preterm without microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, (4) preterm labor who delivered preterm with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, (5) preterm premature rupture of membranes with and without microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, (6) term premature rupture of membranes not in labor and in labor, and (7) mid trimester of pregnancy. Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity was determined by an amniotic fluid culture positive for microorganisms. MMP-1 concentrations in amniotic fluid were determined by means of sensitive and specific immunoassays. RESULTS: (1) MMP-1 was detectable in 81.3% of amniotic fluid samples (287/353), and its concentrations increased with advancing gestational age (r = 0.4; P <.001). (2) Preterm premature rupture of membranes was associated with a significant increase in the median amniotic fluid concentration of MMP-1 (P =.02). (3) Women with term premature rupture of membranes had a significantly lower amniotic fluid MMP-1 concentration than those with intact membranes at term not in labor (P <.001). (4) Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in patients in preterm labor with intact membranes and in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes was also associated with significant increases in the median amniotic fluid MMP-1 concentrations (P <.05 and P <.01, respectively). (5) Patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes and microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid MMP-1 concentration than those with intact membranes and microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (P =.01). (6) Neither term nor preterm parturition was associated with changes in amniotic fluid MMP-1 concentrations (P =.6 and P =.3, respectively). CONCLUSION: (1) Collagenase 1 (MMP-1) is a physiologic constituent of amniotic fluid. (2) Preterm premature rupture of membranes (in both the presence and absence of infection) was associated with an increase in the amniotic fluid MMP-1 concentrations. (3) Neither term nor preterm parturition was associated with a significant increase in the amniotic fluid concentration of MMP-1.

Long-term effects of almitrine bismesylate on oxygenation during wakefulness and sleep in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Hypoxemia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) becomes more pronounced during sleep and can result in a number of serious consequences. Almitrine bismesylate is a peripheral chemoreceptor agonist that improves arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) in patients with COPD during wakefulness. Studies conducted for up to six months suggested the agonist may be useful in the management of nocturnal hypoxemia. In this double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study, patients with COPD received 50 mg of almitrine bismesylate (n = 9) or placebo (n = 11) twice a day for one year. Almitrine bismesylate increased PaO2 by 8.1 +/- 2.1 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM), decreased arterial carbon dioxide tension by 3.0 +/- 0.7 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM), and increased minute ventilation by 3.1 +/- 0.5 liters/minute (mean +/- SEM) during wakefulness. All of these changes were statistically significant. Five patients in the almitrine bismesylate group and eight patients in the placebo group completed sleep studies prior to and after 56, 180, and 360 days of almitrine bismesylate or placebo administration. Relative to placebo, almitrine bismesylate significantly increased oxygen saturation during sleep without any significant changes in the quantity or quality of sleep.