Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lok Hin Lee, Elizabeth Bradburn, Rachel Craik, Mohammad Yaqub, Shane A. A. Norris, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Eric O. O. Ohuma, Fernando C. C. Barros, Ann Lambert, Maria Carvalho, Yasmin A. A. Jaffer, Michael Gravett, Manorama Purwar, Qingqing Wu, Enrico Bertino, Shama Munim, Aung Myat Min, Zulfiqar Bhutta, Jose Villar, Stephen H. H. Kennedy, J. Alison Noble, Aris T. T. Papageorghiou
Summary: Accurate estimation of gestational age is crucial for obstetric care. Ultrasound measurement of fetal size is the best method, but its accuracy decreases in the later stages of pregnancy. This study presents a machine learning-based model that estimates gestational age using only ultrasound images. The model outperforms current ultrasound-based methods, even in cases of intrauterine growth restriction.
NPJ DIGITAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jennifer A. Hutcheon, Jessica Liauw
Summary: The study found that there was little practical difference between using a fetal growth reference or a standard to detect small infants, with both methods showing similar results.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Natasha L. Pritchard, Stephen Tong, Susan P. Walker, Anthea C. Lindquist
Summary: Using a single centile per week to measure growth standards during gestation overestimates the proportion of small-for-gestational-age infants at the beginning of the week and underestimates it at the end of the week. This distorts the assessment of stillbirth risk among small-for-gestational-age infants based on their birth timing.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nieves Luisa Gonzalez Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez Davila, Agustina Gonzalez Martin, Marina Armas, Laura Tascon, Alba Farras, Teresa Higueras, Manel Mendoza, Elena Carreras, Maria Goya
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine if customized fetal growth curves (CCs) excluding abnormal maternal weight are better than standard CCs at identifying small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. The results showed that the use of the new CCs allowed for a more accurate identification of SGA at risk of adverse perinatal outcomes compared to the standard CCs.
Article
Acoustics
R. L. Deter, W. Lee, P. Dicker, E. C. Tully, F. Cody, F. D. Malone, K. M. Flood
Summary: This study found that there are seven growth restriction patterns in small fetuses with delayed growth in the third trimester. 37% of fetuses without evidence of growth restriction had vascular abnormalities. The distribution and types of normal growth and growth restriction patterns in the AGA cohort were different compared to the SGA cohort.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katherine Grantz, Stefanie Hinkle, Dian He, John Owen, Daniel A. Skupski, Cuilin A. Zhang, Anindya A. Roy
Summary: Customized fetal growth charts assume normality and constant coefficient of variation assumptions, but these assumptions have never been formally tested. By analyzing longitudinal sonographic biometric data, we found that the assumptions of proportionality and normal distribution may be questionable. A heteroscedastic model that captures unstable variance in customization characteristics appears to improve the detection of abnormal growth percentiles.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ricardo Saviron-Cornudella, Luis Mariano Esteban, Rocio Aznar-Gimeno, Pena Dieste-Perez, Faustino R. Perez-Lopez, Jose Manuel Campillos, Berta Castan-Larraz, Gerardo Sanz, Mauricio Tajada-Duaso
Summary: This study assessed the predictive ability of ultrasound-estimated percentile weight at 35 weeks of gestational age for late-onset SGA and APOs, finding that all standards had good predictive ability for SGA, with non-customized standards slightly better. Detection rates for SGA increased as ultrasound-delivery intervals decreased, and APO detection rates were significantly higher for non-customized standards.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Martina A. Steurer, Kurt Schuhmacher, Jill J. Savla, Mousumi Banerjee, Nikhil K. Chanani, Aaron Eckhauser, Justin Elhoff, Jeffrey P. Jacobs, Katherine Mikesell, Shabnam Peyvandi, Jennifer Romano, Wenying Zhang, J. William Gaynor, Sarah Tabbutt
Summary: This study developed a Neonatal Risk Adjustment Model for congenital heart surgery that incorporated more granular data on gestational age and birth weight, and compared its performance with traditional models, finding that it improved the accuracy of mortality prediction.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Muhammad Za'im Sahul Hameed, Rosnah Sutan, Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy, Azmi Mohd Tamil, Saperi Sulong
Summary: Despite advanced healthcare technology and quality hospital services in Malaysia, high rates of adverse perinatal outcomes are still reported. This study aims to create a model for evaluating individualized birth weight customized for maternal characteristics in the Malaysian population. The design and construction of a Malaysian customized fetal growth chart (GROW-MY) based on baseline birth data is being implemented and tested for feasibility, taking into consideration feedback from caregivers and patients.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tianchen Wu, Xiaoli Gong, Yangyu Zhao, Lizhen Zhang, Yiping You, Hongwei Wei, Xifang Zuo, Ying Zhou, Xinli Xing, Zhaoyan Meng, Qi Lv, Zhaodong Liu, Jian Zhang, Liyan Hu, Junnan Li, Li Li, Chulin Chen, Chunyan Liu, Guoqiang Sun, Aiju Liu, Jingsi Chen, Yuan Lv, Xiaoli Wang, Yuan Wei
Summary: This study aimed to establish fetal growth velocity standards for the Chinese population and found that Chinese fetal growth patterns are somewhat different from those of other populations. Fetal growth velocity provides more information to understand the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, especially for appropriate-for-gestational age neonates.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Wen-Juan Wang, Rong Huang, Tao Zheng, Qinwen Du, Meng-Nan Yang, Ya-Jie Xu, Xin Liu, Min-Yi Tao, Hua He, Fang Fang, Fei Li, Jian-Gao Fan, Jun Zhang, Laurent Briollais, Fengxiu Ouyang, Zhong-Cheng Luo
Summary: This study found that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with DNA methylation changes in placental genes, but these changes are not correlated with metabolic health biomarkers in cord blood. Eleven differentially methylated genes were identified to be relevant to fetal growth.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sanna Mustaniemi, Hilkka Nikkinen, Aini Bloigu, Anneli Pouta, Risto Kaaja, Johan G. Eriksson, Hannele Laivuori, Mika Gissler, Eero Kajantie, Marja Vaarasmaki
Summary: The study showed that normal gestational weight gain is associated with a lower risk of large-for-gestational-age infants and lower birth weight standard deviation scores in the presence of gestational diabetes and maternal obesity.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wonjin Kim, Soo Kyung Park, Yoo Lee Kim
Summary: The study found that fetal abdominal obesity (FAO) is present in older and/or obese pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at the time of diagnosis and persists until delivery. GDM patients with FAO at 20-24 weeks have a significantly higher likelihood of being diagnosed with GDM and giving birth to large for gestational age babies, as well as a higher rate of primary cesarean delivery compared to those without FAO. Early diagnosis and intervention of GDM before 20-24 weeks may be necessary to prevent FAO in older and/or obese women.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sarah K. Shea, Benjamin J. Likins, Andrea D. Boan, Roger B. Newman, Matthew M. Finneran
Summary: This study aimed to compare the ability of a twin-specific growth reference and a singleton growth reference in identifying fetal growth restriction associated with adverse neonatal outcomes in dichorionic twin gestations. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's twin-specific growth reference was found to better identify the risk for adverse neonatal outcomes. Using the Hadlock singleton growth reference may lead to unnecessary maternal anxiety and possibly iatrogenic preterm delivery.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lorena Lopez-Dominguez, Diego G. Bassani, Celine Bourdon, Paraskevi Massara, Ina S. Santos, Alicia Matijasevich, Aluisio. J. D. Barros, Elena M. Comelli, Robert H. J. Bandsma
Summary: Assessing child growth patterns is crucial for designing public health interventions, but current analytical approaches may not consider population heterogeneity. To address this limitation, a growth trajectories clustering pipeline was developed that incorporates shape-respecting distance, baseline centering, and Gestational Age correction. This pipeline improved the identification of meaningful subgroups for public health interventions by characterizing shape-based child growth patterns.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jane P. Daniels, Emily Dixon, Alicia Gill, Jon Bishop, Mark Wilks, Michael Millar, Jim Gray, Tracy E. Roberts, Jane Plumb, Jonathan J. Deeks, Karla Hemming, Khalid S. Khan, Shakila Thangaratinam
Summary: This study evaluated the use of intrapartum rapid test to detect maternal GBS colonization in women with clinical risk factors for early neonatal infection. The results showed that the use of rapid test did not reduce the rates of antibiotics administered to prevent neonatal early-onset GBS infection compared to usual care. The accuracy of the rapid test is within acceptable limits.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Caroline Kristunas, Michael Grayling, Laura J. Gray, Karla Hemming
Summary: Covariate constrained randomisation provides moderate to substantial improvements in power compared to worst balanced allocations, but the prognostic effect of the covariates should be carefully considered when selecting them for randomisation.
BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jane Daniels, Emily F. Dixon, Alicia Gill, Jon Bishop, Maria D'Amico, Khaled Ahmed, Julie Dodds, Kostas Tryposkiadis, Mark Wilks, Michael Millar, Shahid Husain, Jim Gray, Angela Whiley, Patrick Moore, Ruvimbo L. Munetsi, Karla Hemming, Tracy Roberts, Jane Plumb, Jonathan Deeks, Khalid S. Khan, Shakila Thangaratinam
Summary: This study investigated whether intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis guided by a rapid test reduces antibiotic use in mothers and neonates. The results showed that this strategy did not reduce the rates of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing early-onset group B Streptococcus infection, but did reduce neonatal antibiotic exposure.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Laura Kudrna, Paul Bird, Karla Hemming, Laura Quinn, Kelly Schmidtke, Richard Lilford
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of a short-term training program on improving the use of SPCs in hospital board papers. The results showed that the training program was effective in increasing the use of SPCs within the organization.
BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
James Martin, Lee Middleton, Karla Hemming
Summary: Cluster-randomised trials often use restricted randomisation methods, such as stratified- or covariate-constrained randomisation. Minimisation has the potential to balance on more covariates and can be implemented sequentially. However, minimisation may not maintain close to a 1:1 allocation, which is crucial in trials with a small number of allocation units like cluster randomisation.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Evans A. Asamane, Laura Quinn, Samuel I. Watson, Richard J. Lilford, Karla Hemming, Cheick Sidibe, Ryan T. Rego, Sami Bensassi, Youssouf Diarra, Samba Diop, Om Prasad Gautam, Mohammad Sirajul Islam, Louise Jackson, Kate Jolly, Kassoum Kayentao, Ousmane Koita, Buba Manjang, Susan Tebbs, Nicola Gale, Paula Griffiths, Sandy Cairncross, Ousmane Toure, Semira Manaseki-Holland
Summary: This study presents a protocol for a cluster randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based educational intervention in improving food safety and hygiene behaviors and enhancing child nutrition. The trial will assess changes in complementary-food safety and preparation behaviors, as well as food and water contamination and diarrhoea. The study will also examine secondary outcomes such as maternal autonomy, enteric infection, nutrition, child anthropometry, and development scores.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Karla Hemming, Monica Taljaard
Summary: Cluster randomized trials require larger sample size and face additional complexities. The potential for contamination justifies the use of cluster randomization, but the risk of contamination should be weighed against the problem of questionable scientific validity in settings with post-randomization identification or recruitment of unblinded participants. Guidelines are provided to minimize bias and maximize statistical efficiency in conducting cluster trials, emphasizing that methods for individually randomized trials rarely apply. Cluster randomization should be used when necessary, balancing its benefits, risks, and sample size. Clustering, restricted randomization, and adjustment for covariates should be considered, and recruitment should preferably be done before randomizing clusters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ioannis Gallos, Adam Devall, James Martin, Lee Middleton, Leanne Beeson, Hadiza Galadanci, Fadhlun Alwy Al-beity, Zahida Qureshi, G. Justus Hofmeyr, Neil Moran, Sue Fawcus, Lumaan Sheikh, George Gwako, Alfred Osoti, Ashraf Aswat, Kristie-Marie Mammoliti, Kulandaipalayam N. Sindhu, Marcelina Podesek, Isobelle Horne, Rebecca Timms, Idnan Yunas, Jenipher Okore, Mandisa Singata-Madliki, Edna Arends, Aminu A. Wakili, A. Mwampashi, Sidrah Nausheen, Shah Muhammad, Pallavi Latthe, Cherrie Evans, Shahinoor Akter, Gillian Forbes, David Lissauer, Shireen Meher, Andrew Weeks, Andrew Shennan, Anne Ammerdorffer, Eleanor Williams, Tracy Roberts, Mariana Widmer, Olufemi T. Oladapo, Fabiana Lorencatto, Meghan A. Bohren, Suellen Miller, Fernando Althabe, Metin Gulmezoglu, Jeffrey M. Smith, Karla Hemming, Arri Coomarasamy
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate a multicomponent clinical intervention for early detection and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage. The results showed that the use of a blood-collection drape and treatment bundle reduced the risk of severe postpartum hemorrhage and improved detection and adherence to treatment.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Samuel I. Watson, Joshua O. Akinyemi, Karla Hemming
Summary: This article presents and compares methods for deriving P-values and confidence intervals with strong control of the family-wise error rates and coverage in cluster randomized trials with multiple outcomes. Existing methods for P-value corrections and deriving confidence intervals are limited in their application in this context. The study discusses and adapts the methods of Bonferroni, Holm, and Romano and Wolf for cluster randomized trial inference. A novel search procedure using permutation tests is developed for confidence set limits, and a simulation-based study is conducted to compare different methods. The results show that the Romano-Wolf type procedure has nominal error rates and coverage, and is more efficient than other methods in the simulation-based study. Results from the analysis of a real-world trial are also compared.
STATISTICS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Emma Dickinson-Craig, Jargalsaikhan Badarch, Suzanne Bartington, Karla Hemming, Rasiah Thayakaran, Rosie Day, Francis Pope, Bataa Chuluunbaatar, Damdindorj Boldbaatar, Chimedsuren Ochir, David Warburton, Graham Neil Thomas, Semira Manaseki-Holland
Summary: Despite a decade of policy actions, Ulaanbaatar's residents continue to be exposed to extreme levels of air pollution, which is a major public health concern. The Mongolian government implemented a raw coal ban in May 2019 to address this issue. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the coal ban policy on air quality and maternal and child health outcomes.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
K. Hemming, P. Melo, R. Luo, M. Taljaard, A. Coomarasamy
Summary: Bayesian interpretation can prevent misinterpretation of statistical findings and help authors differentiate evidence of no effect from statistical uncertainty. In this study, the Bayesian re-analysis showed that most statistically non-significant results were actually inconclusive, rather than evidence of no effect.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lailah Alidu, Lena Al-Khudairy, Ila Bharatan, Paul Bird, Niyah Campbell, Graeme Currie, Karla Hemming, Kate Jolly, Laura Kudrna, Richard Lilford, James Martin, Laura Quinn, Kelly Ann Schmidtke, James Yates, Vidanka Vasilevski
Summary: This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention 'mental contrasting plus implementation intentions' in a new workplace context. The study will recruit staff from 60 organizations and assess how this intervention can empower and support them in improving their health and wellbeing. This will be the first evaluation of the intervention outside of healthcare settings.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Samuel Watson, Alan Girling, Karla Hemming
Summary: This article presents a review of statistical and computational methods for identifying optimal cluster randomised trial designs. Three broad classes of methods are identified: exact formulae for treatment effect estimator variance, generalised methods for estimating weights for experimental units, and combinatorial optimisation algorithms. The results show that these methods can be applied in various cluster trial scenarios, including optimal allocation and determination of the number of single observations to make in each cluster-period.
STATISTICAL METHODS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
K. Hemming, M. Taljaard, E. Gkini, J. Bishop
Summary: Justifying sample size for a pilot trial is important, but few trials provide a clear rationale for their chosen sample size. Unlike full-scale trials, pilot trials should focus on feasibility objectives rather than effectiveness objectives. For pilot cluster trials, sample size calculations depend on the number of clusters, cluster sizes, intra-cluster correlation coefficient, and anticipated proportion for the feasibility outcome.
PILOT AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ioannis Gallos, Adam Devall, James Martin, Lee Middleton, Leanne Beeson, Hadiza Galadanci, Fadhlun Alwy Al-beity, Zahida Qureshi, G. Justus Hofmeyr, Neil Moran, Sue Fawcus, Lumaan Sheikh, George Gwako, Alfred Osoti, Ashraf Aswat, Kristie-Marie Mammoliti, Kulandaipalayam N. Sindhu, Marcelina Podesek, Isobelle Horne, Rebecca Timms, Idnan Yunas, Jenipher Okore, Mandisa Singata-Madliki, Edna Arends, Aminu A. Wakili, Ard Mwampashi, Sidrah Nausheen, Shah Muhammad, Pallavi Latthe, Cherrie Evans, Shahinoor Akter, Gillian Forbes, David Lissauer, Shireen Meher, Andrew Weeks, Andrew Shennan, Anne Ammerdorffer, Eleanor Williams, Tracy Roberts, Mariana Widmer, Olufemi T. Oladapo, Fabiana Lorencatto, Meghan A. Bohren, Suellen Miller, Fernando Althabe, Metin Gulmezoglu, Jeffrey M. Smith, Karla Hemming, Arri Coomarasamy
Summary: Early detection and bundled treatment of postpartum hemorrhage led to a lower risk of severe complications or death compared to usual care among patients undergoing vaginal delivery.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tal Margaliot Kalifa, Hen Y. Sela, Jordanna Joseph, Sorina Grisaru-Granovsky, Fayez Khatib, Misgav Rottenstreich
Summary: Pregnancies following a second trimester uterine evacuation do not have an increased risk of preterm delivery or other adverse perinatal outcomes compared to pregnancies following a first trimester uterine evacuation.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dominique A. Badr, Mieke M. Cannie, Caroline Kadji, Xin Kang, Andrew Carlin, Jacques C. Jani
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess the influence of the test-to-delivery interval on the performance of ultrasound and MRI in predicting birthweight. The results showed that MRI performed best in predicting birthweight greater than gestational age if delivery occurred within two weeks of the examination, with a slight decrease thereafter, while ultrasound performance decreased drastically over time.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Corina N. Schoen, Sami Backley, Lauren Orr, Amrita Roy, Tiffany Corlin, Alexander B. Knee
Summary: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate whether induction of labor is associated with a lower risk of cesarean section in patients with isolated polyhydramnios. The study found that planned induction was associated with a lower rate of cesarean delivery compared to expectant management, but the difference was not statistically significant. Additionally, no differences were observed in maternal or fetal secondary outcomes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ohad Houri, Asaf Romano, Yossi Geron, Gil Zeevi, Eran Hadar, Shiri Barbash-Hazan, Shir Danieli-Gruber
Summary: Women with prior uterine rupture have good maternal and neonatal outcomes in subsequent pregnancies when managed at a tertiary medical center, with planned elective term cesarean delivery, or even earlier, at the onset of spontaneous preterm labor.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2024)
Correction
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Laura E. Janssen, Marjon A. de Boer, Eline C. E. von Konigslow, Elisa Dal, Martijn A. Oudijk, Danielle Robbers-Visser, Christianne J. M. de Groot
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Natalia Rzewuska, Jacek Kunicki, Katarzyna Pieniak, Paulina Laskus, Bernadeta Zabielska, Roman Smolarczyk, Michal Kunicki
Summary: This systematic review examined the comorbidity of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and their impact on metabolism, hormone levels, and reproduction. The findings showed a high prevalence of comorbidity between the two conditions, which may have significant clinical implications for patient management.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2024)
