From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Wed Sep 1 13:36:37 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 13:36:37 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] NATIONAL HEALTHY START ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES CELEBRATE DAY 366 TO COMMEMORATE INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH Message-ID: For More Information: Xina Eiland, Publicist (703) 785-4358 xinaeiland at me.com National Healthy Start Association 1411 K Street, NW, Suite 1350 Washington, DC 20005 Press Release For Immediate Release NATIONAL HEALTHY START ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES Celebrate Day 366 to Commemorate Infant Mortality Awareness Month NHSA will Host a Congressional Briefing on September 23 on Capitol Hill Washington, DC - September 1, 2010 - To commemorate Infant Mortality Awareness Month, the National Healthy Start Association (NHSA) will launch its campaign, Celebrate Day 366...Every Baby Deserves a Chance to promote national awareness about infant mortality, and NHSA will host a congressional briefing on September 23 in Washington, D.C. The briefing will bring together politicians, national policymakers, and advocates for reducing infant mortality - including parents affected by infant mortality - at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, South from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Infant mortality refers to the number of infant deaths before the age of one and Celebrate Day 366 is a campaign to increase the public's awareness about the issue. The campaign is an example of NHSA's commitment to increasing the number of babies who will live beyond their first birthday. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that the nation's most vulnerable women and families are receiving high quality services and resources for healthy pregnancies and healthy births. Infant Mortality Awareness Month is a key time to also raise public awareness about the one million babies who die each year because they are born prematurely. "Every year we commemorate September as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month. And every year I am saddened by the number of babies who didn't live to see their first birthday. But I am hopeful each year that the U.S. infant mortality rate will decrease, and the number of healthy babies born to families will rise. It is because of the amazing work of Healthy Start projects that we are seeing reduced infant deaths in counties across the country," stated Stacey D. Cunningham, NHSA Executive Director. NHSA has also created the Celebrate Day 366 toolkit that contains fundraising activities, advocacy suggestions, useful statistics, as well as tips for working with the media, public relations and marketing. The toolkit created for the campaign can be a valuable asset to any organization interested in pursuing advocacy efforts for National Infant Mortality Awareness Month and throughout the year. To download the toolkit, visit the NHSA website at http://www.healthystartassoc.org/. NHSA will culminate the month with a briefing to discuss priorities for action in the public and private sectors that address reducing infant mortality rates and strategies to ensure that every baby has a healthy start. As a host of the congressional briefing, NHSA will inform politicians and the general public about the pressing need for community-based programs to reduce infant mortality, low birth-weight, and racial disparities in perinatal outcomes. Some issues that will be covered during the congressional briefing include examples of federal efforts focused on reducing infant mortality and examples of national nonprofits centered on reducing infant mortality. Invited to provide remarks at the Congressional Briefing are U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN); Deputy Assistant for Minority Health, Garth Graham, M.D.; Executive Director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Judy Meehan; and President of the National Fatherhood Initiative, Roland Warren. Among industrialized countries, the United States is ranked 29th in the world in infant mortality. The infant mortality rate is widely considered the barometer by which the health of its entire population is gauged. The U.S. figure is an abysmal rate for a country that is considered to be one of the wealthiest and most powerful countries in the world. Moreover, in the United States, African Americans have 2.3 times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites. These figures underscore the importance of a commitment to saving the babies of this nation. Estrellita "Lo" Berry, NHSA Board President stated, "Childbirth and childbearing are opportunities for positively influencing the health and well being of families and communities. Thus, each of us can and must work to assure that everyone has a fair opportunity to attain good health." ### About the National Healthy Start Association The National Healthy Start Association (NHSA) is a recognized leader in and advocate for reducing infant mortality and perinatal disparities and the hub for maternal and child health programs and services.NHSA is committed to improving birth rates in this country. The mission of NHSA is to promote the development of community-based maternal and child health programs, particularly those addressing the issues of infant mortality, low birth weight and racial disparities in perinatal outcomes.The Association's primary purpose is to expand the capacity of community-based maternal and child health (MCH) and infant mortality preventive health services, thereby ensuring that all families have access to a continuum of affordable quality health care and related services. For more information, please visit www.healthystartassoc.org . ### Forward email This email was sent to prusinko at hrsa.gov by info at nationalhealthystart.org. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe (tm) | Privacy Policy . Email Marketing by National Healthy Start Association | 2030 M Street, NW, Suite 350 | Washington | DC | 20036 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 354 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 405 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 332 bytes Desc: image003.jpg URL: From rbarzel at ncemch.org Thu Sep 2 09:52:06 2010 From: rbarzel at ncemch.org (Ruth Barzel) Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 09:52:06 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] =?windows-1252?q?NSIDRC_Journal_Article_Alert_?= =?windows-1252?q?=96_September_3=2C_2010?= Message-ID: NSIDRC Journal Article Alert ? September 3, 2010 Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University. Past issues of NSIDRC journal alerts are available at http://www.sidscenter.org. Availability of full-text journal articles is often limited to subscribers or through inter-library loan. Please see your local library for copies of these articles, or view PubMed's How to Get the Journal Article or Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce's How to Access Journal Articles at http://phpartners.org/howtoaccess.html for more details. _____________________________________________________________________________ Sudden Infant Death 1. Smith AP, Saiki T, Hannam S, Rafferty GF, Greenough A The effects of sleeping position on ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide in premature infants Thorax. 2010 Sep;65(9):824-8 Neonatal Intensive Care Centre, 4th Floor Golden Jubilee Wing, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8RS, UK. anne.greenough at kcl.ac.uk . Background The prone sleeping position, particularly in prematurely born infants, is associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. A possible mechanism is an impaired ability to respond to respiratory compromise. The hypothesis that the ventilatory response to a carbon dioxide (CO(2)) challenge in convalescent, prematurely born infants would be lower in the prone compared with the supine position was therefore tested. Methods In each position, ventilatory responses to increasing levels of inspired CO(2) were assessed. The airway pressure change after the first 100 ms of an occluded inspiration (P(0.1)) and the maximum inspiratory pressure with an occluded airway during crying (P(imax)) were measured; the ratio of the P(0.1) to the P(imax) at each inspired CO(2) level and the slope of the P(0.1)/P(imax) response were calculated. Chest and abdominal wall asynchrony was assessed using inductance plethysmography and functional residual capacity (FRC) measured using a helium gas dilution technique. Results Eighteen infants with a median postmenstrual age of 35 (range 35-37) weeks were studied. In the prone versus the supine position, the mean P(0.1) (p=0.002), the mean P(imax) (p=0.006), the increase in P(0.1) with increasing CO(2) (p=0.007) and the P(0.1)/P(imax) response slope (p=0.007) were smaller. Thoracoabdominal asynchrony was not significantly influenced by position or inspired CO(2). FRC was higher in the prone position (p=0.019). Conclusions Convalescent, prematurely born infants have a reduced ventilatory response to CO(2) challenge in the prone position, suggesting they may have an impaired ability to respond to respiratory compromise in that position. 2. Bowers M, Gold-von Simson G NHE3 expression and SIDS J Pediatr. 2010 Sep;157(3):516; author reply 516-7. Epub 2010 Jun 19. Comment on: J Pediatr. 2010 Jan;156(1):44-48.e1. Bereavement 1. Limbo R, Kobler K The Tie That Binds: Relationships in Perinatal Bereavement MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2010 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print] Rana Limbo is the Director of Bereavement and Advance Care Planning Services, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, Inc., La Crosse, WI. She can be reached via e-mail at rklimbo at gundluth.org Kathie Kobler is the Advanced Practice Nurse for the Pediatric Palliative Care Program, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL. Relationship is a central concept to the delivery of quality perinatal bereavement care. This article explores relevant bereavement research and clinically based writings about relationship in the care of families experiencing perinatal loss. Focusing on relationship provides a framework to guide interventions that will be perceived as meaningful and helpful to grieving parents. From the moment parents learn the difficult news of their baby's poor prognosis or death, nurses must strive to establish trust while building an effective working relationship with the family. A nurse with an understanding of the relationship needs can guide parents in creating a context for supporting each family member dealing with this unexpected family tragedy. Through sensitive follow-up bereavement care, nurses provide a source of hope for grieving families over time. Ultimately, nurses must find meaningful ways of self-care as a way of reinvesting in future relationship with other grieving families. Miscarriage/Stillbirth/Prenatal Issues 1. Wikstr?m AK, Cnattingius S, Stephansson O Maternal Use of Swedish Snuff (Snus) and Risk of Stillbirth Epidemiology. 2010 Aug 27. [Epub ahead of print] >From the aClinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; bDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; and cDivision of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska University Hospital and Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. BACKGROUND: Swedish snuff has been discussed internationally as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking. International cigarette manufacturers are promoting new snuff products, and the use of Swedish snuff is increasing, especially among women of childbearing age. The effect of Swedish snuff on pregnancy complications is unknown. METHODS: In this population-based cohort study, we estimated the risk of stillbirth in snuff users (n = 7629), light smokers (1-9 cigarettes/day; n = 41,488), and heavy smokers (>/=10 cigarettes/day; n = 17,014), using nontobacco users (n = 504,531) as reference. RESULTS: Compared with nontobacco users, snuff users had an increased risk of stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio = 1.6 [95% confidence interval = 1.1-2.3]); the risk was higher for preterm (<37 weeks) stillbirth (2.1 [1.3-3.4]). For light smokers, the adjusted odds ratio of stillbirth was 1.4 (1.2-1.7) and the corresponding risk for heavy smokers was 2.4 (2.0-3.0). When we excluded women with preeclampsia or antenatal bleeding and infants who were small for gestational age, the smoking-related risks of stillbirth was markedly attenuated; the elevated risk for snuff users remained the same level. CONCLUSIONS: Use of Swedish snuff during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of stillbirth. The mechanism behind this increased risk seems to differ from the underlying mechanism in smokers. Swedish snuff does not appear to be a safe alternative to cigarette smoking during pregnancy. 2. Pattenden S, Casson K, Cook S, Dolk H Geographical variation in infant mortality, stillbirth and low birth weight in Northern Ireland, 1992-2002 J Epidemiol Community Health. 2010 Aug 30. [Epub ahead of print] London, UK. Background Improving the health of expectant mothers and reductions in health inequalities, are repeatedly prioritised in policy reports in England and Northern Ireland. Measurement of underlying rates, and geographical variation in rates, of adverse birth outcomes are tools in monitoring these priorities. Methods Northern Ireland data on stillbirths, infant mortality and low birth weight (1992-2002) were linked to board (n=4), district council (n=26) and 1991 census wards (n=568). Underlying variations in rates were estimated at each geographical level, unadjusted and controlling for year, ward-level deprivation, settlement size and higher geographical levels. Impacts on geographical variation of individual social class, maternal age, multiple birth and smoking were assessed. Results There was significant variation in underlying rates of low birth weight (<2500 g) at all three geographical levels. Controlling for smoking reduced variation between wards. Geographical variation proved more robust for medium than for very low birth weight. No variation was seen between boards for other outcomes, nor between district level rates of infant mortality. Evidence was weak for variation in district rates of neonatal deaths and stillbirths, and variation in ward-level adjusted stillbirth rates was not significant. Variation in ward-level infant death rates was robust to all adjustments, with risks tripling (infant mortality) or quadrupling (neonatal mortality) between the 10th and 90th percentile. Conclusions Strong evidence was found of geographical variation in infant mortality and low birth weight, unexplained by individual risk factors or by area-level deprivation. Geographical targeting or area-level interventions might look beyond deprivation scores, to other environmental and social factors. 3. Bugg G, Hiscock J, Flood C An example of a less medicalized approach to the management of late miscarriage of the first twin Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2010 Sep;89(9):1240 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 4. Duke W, Shin M, Correa A, Alverson CJ Survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practice management patterns of atlanta-area obstetricians regarding stillbirth Womens Health Issues. 2010 Sep;20(5):366-70 Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia OBJECTIVE: Existing surveillance data on fetal death certificates are suboptimal for conducting reliable epidemiologic studies on stillbirth. The objective of this survey was to better understand the factors potentially affecting the quality of data collected on stillbirths among a defined population. METHODS: A survey was mailed to all physicians (n = 661) listed in the July 2007 version of the American Medical Association master file with a primary specialty of obstetrics/gynecology and a mailing address within five counties in metropolitan Atlanta. RESULTS: A total of 487 physicians met eligibility criteria: 279 returned the survey, 179 did not return the survey, and 29 were returned as unable to locate. Two respondents returned incomplete surveys, leaving 277 participants for the final analysis. Respondents reported seeing an average of six stillbirths per year. A cause of death was not identified in two thirds of cases. Almost half (46.8%) of participants responded that 20 weeks was the minimum gestational age defining stillbirth, whereas 33.1% responded that it was 24 weeks. A majority (92.6%) responded that a standardized definition for stillbirth should be adopted. More than 80% agreed that a comprehensive evaluation was important to identify a cause of death, and 91.9% agreed that the use of a standardized protocol for post-mortem stillbirth evaluation would be helpful. A majority also agreed that ongoing surveillance of stillbirths and a national research agenda on causes of stillbirth are important. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive educational and awareness efforts for obstetricians and other related health care personnel are needed to further improve on the data collected for surveillance purposes on stillbirth. 5. Haavaldsen C, Sarfraz AA, Samuelsen SO, Eskild A The impact of maternal age on fetal death: does length of gestation matter? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Aug 26. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Akershus University Hospital, and the Medical Faculty Division, University of Oslo, Oslo. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the investigation was to study the association of fetal death with maternal age by length of gestation. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population study including all ongoing pregnancies after 16 weeks of gestation in Norway during the period 1967-2006 (n = 2,182,756). RESULTS: The risk of fetal death was 1.4 times higher in women 40-44 years old than in women aged 20-24 years in midpregnancy but 2.8 times higher at term. In term pregnancies the relative importance of maternal age increased by additional pregnancy weeks. In gestational weeks 42-43, the crude risk was 5.1 times higher in mothers 40 years old or older. In the recent period, the elevated risk of fetal death in elderly mothers at term has been attenuated. CONCLUSION: Women 40 years old or older had the highest risk of fetal death throughout pregnancy, particularly in term and postterm pregnancies. Improved obstetric care may explain the attenuation of risk associated with age in recent time. 6. Visser J, Cohen D, Bloemenkamp KW Antithrombotic medications and recurrent miscarriage N Engl J Med. 2010 Aug 26;363(9):887-8; author reply 888 Comment on: N Engl J Med. 2010 Apr 29;362(17):1586-96. 7. Wingate MS, Barfield WD Racial and Ethnic Variations in Temporal Changes in Fetal Deaths and First Day Infant Deaths Matern Child Health J. 2010 Aug 26. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, RPHB 330, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0022, USA, mslay at uab.edu. The purpose was to examine changes in overall and gestational age-specific proportions and rates of fetal death, first day death (<24 h), and combined fetal-first day death from 1990-1991 to 2001-2002. Changes were considered by race/ethnicity. Deliveries to U.S. white, black, and Hispanic mothers were selected from the NCHS linked live birth-infant death cohort and fetal deaths files (1990-1991 and 2001-2002). There was an overall improvement in mortality, but improvements were not uniform across all racial/ethnic groups or by gestational age. The fetal mortality rate among whites and Hispanics declined 4.32 and 12.82 percent, respectively. For blacks, the fetal mortality rate increased 4.06 percent between 1990-1991 and 2001-2002. Despite overall reductions in perinatal and <24 h mortality, black rates in all outcomes maintained a twofold disparity. The overall black: white fetal mortality rate ratio increased from 2.17 to 2.36 over time. The gestational age-specific black: white combined fetal-first day mortality rate ratios were greater than 1 at later gestational ages. In some cases, the ratio increased over time, indicating that despite reductions, fetal mortality did not decline uniformly among whites and blacks at term and post-term. Despite overall improvements in fetal, first day, and combined fetal-first day mortality, racial disparities persisted and in some cases widened. This study identifies lack of improvements in fetal death in the black population compared to the white or Hispanic population at later gestational ages. 8. Mantakas A, Farrell T The influence of increasing BMI in nulliparous women on pregnancy outcome Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 Aug 21. [Epub ahead of print] Jessop Wing, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Sheffield, U. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the influence of BMI in pregnancy on rates of adverse pregnancy outcome in overweight nulliparous women. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a retrospective review of data from the local hospital database held at the Jessop Wing of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. We reviewed all nulliparous women with recorded BMI at booking between January 2001 and November 2008 who delivered singleton babies. All the women were stratified into five groups (underweight, normal, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese). The different BMI range groups were compared with the group of women with a normal BMI (20-25). SPSS v15 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The caesarean section rate rose from 18.2% in women of normal BMI to 40.6% in the morbidly obese women (RR 2.2 - CI 1.7-2.8). Morbidly obese women had three times that risk of macrosomia compared with normal BMI women (RR 3.1 - CI 2.1-4.8). The stillbirth rate was associated with increasing obesity with RR 16.7 (CI 4.9-56) for the morbidly obese women. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing degrees of obesity are associated with increases in the incidence of caesarean section, fetal birth weight and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The increased risk shows an increment in a stepwise fashion among the different BMI groups. 9. Enders M, Klingel K, Weidner A, Baisch C, Kandolf R, Schalasta G, Enders G Risk of fetal hydrops and non-hydropic late intrauterine fetal death after gestational parvovirus B19 infection J Clin Virol. 2010 Aug 20. [Epub ahead of print] Laboratory Prof G. Enders and Partners & Institute of Virology, Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology e.V., Rosenbergstrasse 85, D-70193 Stuttgart, Germany. BACKGROUND: Risk assessment of parvovirus B19 (B19)-associated fetal complications following gestational B19 infection remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of fetal hydrops or non-hydropic late intrauterine fetal death following acute maternal B19 infection at defined gestational weeks. STUDY DESIGN: Observational cohort study of pregnant women with serologic evidence of acute B19 infection. If available, fetal or neonatal tissue samples from cases complicated by fetal loss or hydrops were investigated for the presence of B19 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS: Of 236 women with known pregnancy outcome, 228 had a live birth and 8 a fetal loss. The observed rate of fetal hydrops for all pregnant women was 4.2% (10/236) (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-7.7) and 10.6% (10/94) (95% CI, 5.2-18.7) for those infected between 9 and 20 weeks gestation. Tissue samples from 8 hydrops cases were investigated by PCR or ISH and all were B19 DNA positive. Fetal death occurring during or after gestational week 22 was only observed in one case which was associated with B19-derived fetal hydrops. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that although adverse fetal outcome is a rare complication of gestational B19 infection, a relevant risk of fetal hydrops exists particularly for women infected between 9 and 20 weeks' gestation. Cases of B19-derived non-hydropic late intrauterine fetal death were not observed in the present study. 10. Viswanathan AN Childhood cancer survivors: stillbirth and neonatal death Lancet. 2010 Aug 21;376(9741):570-2 Gynecologic Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. aviswanathan at lroc.harvard.edu Comment on: Lancet. 2010 Aug 21;376(9741):624-30. 11. Shin SJ, Lee HH, Cha SH, Kim JH, Shim SH, Choi DH, Kim NK Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms (-786T>C, 4a4b, 894G>T) and haplotypes in Korean patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 Sep;152(1):64-7. Epub 2010 Jun 17 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, South Korea OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of three common polymorphisms (-786T>C, 4a4b, 894G>T) of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective case-control study, 340 patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and 115 controls with at least one live birth and no history of pregnancy loss were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were performed to identify the genotypes. RESULTS: The recurrent spontaneous abortion patients exhibited a significantly higher frequency of the eNOS 894GT+TT genotype (Odds ratio (OR), 2.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25-4.58; p=0.008) compared to the control group; no significant differences in the -786T>C and 4a4b genotype frequencies were observed. The eNOS 894GT genotype (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.00-3.75; p=0.056) was marginally different between recurrent spontaneous abortion and control groups. The frequency of the -786T-4b-894T haplotype (p=0.001) was significantly higher in the idiopathic RSA group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The eNOS 894GT+TT genotype and the -786T-4b-894T haplotype are significantly associated with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion in Korean women. 12. Herring AH, Reddy U Recurrence risk of stillbirth in the second pregnancy BJOG. 2010 Sep;117(10):1173-4 Department of Biostatistics and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. amy_herring at unc.edu Comment on: BJOG. 2010 Sep;117(10):1243-7. 13. Ravelli AC, Tromp M, Eskes M, Droog JC, van der Post JA, Jager KJ, Mol BW, Reitsma JB Ethnic differences in stillbirth and early neonatal mortality in The Netherlands J Epidemiol Community Health. 2010 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print] Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands Background Ethnic disparities in perinatal mortality are well known. This study aimed to explore the contribution of demographic, socioeconomic, health behavioural and pre-existent medical risk factors among different ethnic groups on fetal and early neonatal mortality. Methods We assessed perinatal mortality from 24.0 weeks' gestation onwards in 554 234 singleton pregnancies of nulliparous women in the linked Netherlands Perinatal Registry over the period 2000-2006. Logistic regression modelling was used. Results Considerable ethnic differences in perinatal mortality exist especially in fetal mortality. Maternal age, socioeconomic status and pre-existent diseases could not explain these ethnic differences. Late booking visit could explain some differences. Compared with the Dutch, African women had an increased fetal mortality risk of OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.1); South Asian women, 1.8 (1.4 to 2.3); other non-Western women, 1.3 (1.1 to 1.6) and Turkish/Moroccan women, 1.3 (1.1 to 1.4). The risk on early neonatal mortality was only increased in other non-Western women, OR 1.3 (1.0 to 1.8). Ethnic differences were even present in the women without risk factors including preterm births. Mortality risk for East Asian and other Western women was lower or comparable with the Dutch. Conclusion Important ethnic differences in fetal mortality exist, especially among women of African and South Asian origin. Ethnic minorities should be more acquainted with the significance of early start of prenatal care. Tailored prenatal care for women with African and South Asian origin seems necessary. More research on underlying cause of deaths is needed by ethnic group. 14. Pasupathy D, Wood AM, Pell JP, Fleming M, Smith GC Advanced maternal age and the risk of perinatal death due to intrapartum anoxia at term J Epidemiol Community Health. 2010 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print] University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Background Advanced maternal age is associated with higher risks of intrapartum complications. However, the effect of maternal age on the risk of perinatal death due to these complications is unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between maternal age and delivery-related perinatal death at term. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, birth records of 1 043 002 singleton term infants with cephalic presentation were analysed excluding anomalous and antepartum losses in Scotland between 1985 and 2004. Linked Scottish national registries of pregnancy outcome data and perinatal death data were used. The event was delivery-related perinatal death (ie, intrauterine fetal death during labour or death of the infant in the first 4 weeks of life), plus a subgroup ascribed to intrapartum anoxia. Results There were 803 delivery-related perinatal deaths, with 490 due to intrapartum anoxia (4.7 per 10 000 births) and 313 (3.0 per 10 000 births) due to non-anoxic causes. Compared to women aged 25-34, women aged 40 and above had a twofold risk of delivery-related perinatal death at term (adjusted OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.40). The excess was explained by increased risk of death due to intrapartum anoxia. Among women in labour at term, age greater than 40 was independently associated with risk of anoxic death among primiparous (adjusted OR 5.34, 95% CI 2.34 to 12.20) and multiparous women (adjusted OR 2.14, 95% CI 0.99 to 4.60). Conclusions Advanced maternal age is associated with an increased risk of death due to intrapartum anoxia at term. 15. Ashoor G, Maiz N, Rotas M, Jawdat F, Nicolaides KH Maternal Thyroid Function at 11 to 13 Weeks of Gestation and Subsequent Fetal Death Thyroid. 2010 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print] 1 Harris Birthright Research Centre, King's College Hospital , London, United Kingdom Background: Studies have shown that overt hypothyroidism is associated with a substantial risk of miscarriage. There is controversy as to whether subclinical hypothyroidism has the same effect and whether such effect is mediated by the presence of antithyroid antibodies. Our hypothesis is that maternal thyroid function in the first trimester is altered in pregnancies ending in miscarriage or fetal death. Methods: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine, anti-thyroperoxidase antibody, and anti-thyroglobulin antibody at 11-13 weeks of gestation were measured in 202 singleton pregnancies that subsequently resulted in miscarriage or fetal death, and the values were compared with the results of 4318 normal pregnancies. Results: In the fetal loss group, compared to the unaffected group, there was an increase in median TSH multiple of the normal median (1.133 vs. 1.007 MoM), decrease in median FT4 MoM (0.958 vs. 0.992 MoM), and increase in the incidence of TSH above the 97.5th centile (5.9% vs. 2.5%) and FT4 below the 2.5th centile (5.0% vs. 2.5%). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that in the prediction of fetal loss there were significant contributions from FT4 MoM, maternal black ethnic origin, history of chronic hypertension, and use of ovulation drugs. The prevalence of antithyroid antibody positivity was not significantly different in the fetal loss group compared to that of normal pregnancies (15.3% vs. 16.8%). Conclusions: Impaired thyroid function may predispose to miscarriage and fetal death. 16. Tellefsen C, Vogt C How Important is Placental Examination in Cases of Perinatal Deaths? Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2010 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print] 1 Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Study objective: Research on stillbirths and placental pathology has traditionally been given low priority, causing a lack of understanding of the mechanisms leading to death. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge on how many perinatal deaths relate to morphologic changes in the placenta, and what role the placenta plays in the pathogenesis of intrauterine, intrapartum and neonatal deaths. Methods: The autopsy reports from 104 consecutive perinatal deaths in a 5 year period (2004-2008) were reviewed. Intrauterine, intrapartum and neonatal deaths ranging from 22 weeks gestational age up to 7 days postpartum were included. The following three questions were considered: Could placental examination (with autopsy) explain fetal/infant death; could the cause of death be explained by placental examination alone; and could the cause of death be explained with autopsy alone. The distribution of pathological findings in the placenta was registered. Results: In 69.2% of the cases the placenta had changes that could explain fetal/infant death. In 48.1% the cause of death could be explained by placental examination alone without autopsy. Only 16.3% could be explained by autopsy alone. The most frequently observed diagnoses were infection (22.1%), degenerative changes (13.5%) and abruptio placentae (12.5%). Conclusions: To conclude, our study shows that in addition to autopsy, placental examination is necessary in investigating the causes of perinatal deaths. Further research, including maternal and environmental factors, is needed in order to clarify the underlying causes of placental malfunction.KeywordsAutopsy, placental examination, perinatal death, stillbirth. 17. Hanna CW, Bretherick KL, Liu CC, Stephenson MD, Robinson WP Genetic variation within the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in women with recurrent miscarriage Hum Reprod. 2010 Aug 17. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada. BACKGROUND Recurrent miscarriage affects 1-2% of couples trying to conceive, and is idiopathic in nearly half. Female fertility is controlled by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis and we hypothesize that genetic polymorphisms affecting the function of genes involved in regulating the HPO axis will be associated with recurrent miscarriage. METHODS Whole peripheral blood DNA from 227 women with recurrent miscarriage and 130 control women was obtained for this study. Using the Sequenom iPlex assay for fragment analysis, 31 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 4 short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms in 20 candidate genes were evaluated for genetic association with recurrent miscarriage. RESULTS Several candidate associations were identified with an uncorrected P-value of 0.05. Genotype distribution at an SNP (rs37389) in the prolactin receptor gene (P = 0.03), and allele distributions at an SNP (rs41423247) in the glucocorticoid receptor gene (P = 0.04) and an STR polymorphism in the estrogen receptor beta gene (P = 0.03) were associated with recurrent miscarriage. The T allele of an SNP (rs2033962) within the activin receptor type 1 gene (ACVR1) was associated with increased number of miscarriages in an additive manner (P = 0.02). These candidate associations were not statistically significant after correcting for multiple analyses. CONCLUSIONS Candidate associations were identified between recurrent miscarriage and genetic variation within ESR2, PRLR, GCCR and ACVR1 genes. Independent confirmation of these results is needed, as limitations of this study include the heterogeneous etiology of recurrent miscarriage, limited sample size, partial availability of reproductive history of the control group and investigation of only a subset of the genetic variation within each gene. 18. Suzumori N, Sugiura-Ogasawara M Genetic Factors as a Cause of Miscarriage Curr Med Chem. 2010 Aug 16. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan. og.n.suz at med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp. Aneuploidy in the conceptus or fetus, occurs in 5-10% of all pregnancies and is a common reproductive problem in humans. Most aneuploid conceptuses die in utero, resulting in early pregnancy loss. Causes of recurrent miscarriage may include abnormal chromosomes in either partner, particularly translocations, antiphospholipid antibodies and uterine anomalies. Chromosomal aberrations in parents are a major pre-disposing factor and causative of abortion if carried over to the embryo. The transmission rate in the embryo can be speculated to be about 50%. Embryo morphology, developmental rates, and maternal age are correlated with chromosomal abnormalities. Translocation in either partner is one of the most important causes of recurrent miscarriage and the prognosis of subsequent pregnancy in couples with abnormal embryonic karyotype is poorer than that in couples with normal chromosome karyotypes. As for parents whose karyotypes are normal, the frequency of normal embryonic karyotypes significantly increases with the number of previous abortions and a normal karyotype in a previous pregnancy is a predictor of subsequent miscarriage. Recently, many kinds of genetic polymorphisms have also been found to be associated with recurrent miscarriages. In contrast, preimplantation genetic diagnosis for aneuploidy screening is sometimes performed in patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriages. We review genetic factors as a cause of miscarriage. 19. Oz HS, Ebersole JL, de Villiers WJ The macrophage pattern recognition scavenger receptors SR-A and CD36 protect against microbial induced pregnancy loss Inflamm Res. 2010 Aug 15. [Epub ahead of print] Center for Oral Health Research, MN310 College of Dentistry and Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA, Helieh.oz at uky.edu. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: Microbial products can act via stress-induced signaling cascades to link dysregulated endogenous microbiota to immune activation (e.g., macrophages) and pregnancy loss. Our previous studies demonstrated that mice deficient in the macrophage pattern recognition scavenger receptors, SR-A and CD36, are more susceptible to inflammatory complications including gut leakiness and experimental colitis. We hypothesized that bacterial penetration of the maternal mucosal surfaces and replication in embryonic fluids compromise the fetal status and can result in miscarriage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty pregnant ICR and SR-A/CD36-deficient mice were injected via tail vein or intraperitoneally with commensal bacteria (Streptococcus cricetus and/or Actinobacillus sp.) or sham controls. Dams were monitored daily for physical distress, pain and abortion. RESULTS: Dams injected with single dose bacterial inoculum did not develop clinical symptoms. Day old pups injected with bacteria developed internal focal abscesses, lost weight but recovered after 1 week. Dams receiving a second bacterial inoculum delivered dead fetuses. However, SR-A/CD36-deficnet dams demonstrated 100% fetal death via aborted fetuses, and significant up-regulation of the proinflammatory markers (IL-6, serum Amyloid A) 24-74 h after single inoculum. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that macrophage scavenger receptors are required for the fetal protection against microbial attack and support that maternal transfer of innate immunity contributes to this protection. 20. Mohamed MA, El Moaty MA, El Kholy AF, Mohamed SA, Ali AI Thrombophilic Gene Mutations in Women with Repeated Spontaneous Miscarriage Genet Test Mol Biomarkers. 2010 Aug 14 [Epub ahead of print] 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Benha Faculty of Medicine , Benha, Egypt. Aim: One of the main problems concerning repeated spontaneous miscarriage (RSM) is the etiological diagnosis. Thrombophilia and its relation to RSM is a matter of debate. In this case-control study, we determined the percentages of three thrombophilic mutations (factor V leiden, prothrombin, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) amongst 20 cases with RSM and 20 control normal parous women. Results: There were high statistically significant increases in the number of cases with factor V, prothrombin, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutations compared with normal control and the percentage of multiple gene mutations was higher than single gene mutation. Conclusion: The prevalence of thrombophilic mutations is higher in cases of RSM than control. 21. Limbo R, Kobler K, Levang E Respectful disposition in early pregnancy loss MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2010 Sep-Oct;35(5):271-7; quiz 277-9 Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, Inc., La Crosse, WI, USA. rklimbo at gundluth.org This article discusses an issue rarely seen in the professional literature: the tangible ways nurses can respect a woman's needs following miscarriage by ensuring the safe handling and disposition of fetal tissue or remains. Concepts of personhood, place, and protection are important for nurses to understand within the context of a woman's response to miscarriage. Hospitals or clinics that foster a culture of respectful fetal disposition should have a system in place to bury tissue or fetal remains in a designated area; in fact, several states have enacted laws that regulate what hospitals and clinics must do, or what women must be offered, after a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Barriers may exist to creating a culture of respectful disposition, including staff attitudes, perceived time and financial constraints, lack of knowledge, and inefficient communication between departments. Nurses can begin implementing change in this regard through conducting a needs assessment using guiding questions contained in this article. In addition, through communication, education, and implementation of respectful disposition, nurses can promote safe processes that will honor women's preferences and wishes for care following a miscarriage. 22. Reddy UM Management of pregnancy after stillbirth Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):700-9 Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. reddyu at mail.nih.gov It is difficult for clinicians to counsel, evaluate, and manage subsequent pregnancies after stillbirth as little is known about pregnancy outcome after a stillbirth. In a significant number of cases, either the evaluation was incomplete or the prior stillbirth remains unexplained despite a complete work-up. In addition, there are important psychological and emotional issues when dealing with a pregnancy resulting in a stillbirth. The overall recurrence risk for stillbirth is increased 2 to 10 folds in the next pregnancy, depending on the circumstances. Understanding the circumstances of the previous stillbirth is important for counseling about stillbirth recurrence risk. Categorization of the cause of the previous stillbirth will allow better estimation of individual recurrence risk of the condition that is associated with stillbirth and help guide management. 23. Cacciatore J Stillbirth: patient-centered psychosocial care Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):691-9 School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona 85069-7100, USA. Joanne.cacciatore at asu.edu Evidence-based practice and patient-centered practice are not mutually exclusive clinical ideals. Instead, both styles hold tremendous potential for complementarity in healthcare and should be used to enhance clinical relationships in which caring is humble, mindful, and nuanced. The onus of the responsibility for many decisions about care after stillbirth falls on clinical staff. Yet, even in the dearth of literature exploring standards of care during stillbirth the results can be conflicting. Thus, research in both patient-centered and evidence-based approaches suggest that less emphasis should be placed on the standardization of care; rather, the focus should be on relational caregiving that underscores the uniqueness of each patient and their family, recognizes culture, and encourages affirmative, rather than traumatizing, provider reactions. 24. Silver RM, Heuser CC Stillbirth workup and delivery management Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):681-90 Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. bob.silver at utah.edu Evaluation for etiology is vital in cases of stillbirth to facilitate emotional closure and for counseling regarding subsequent pregnancies. Patients should be treated in a sensitive manner and encouraged to allow an evaluation within the boundaries of their cultural and individual values. The most important components of this workup include a complete medical history, autopsy, placental pathology, and karyotype. Other tests that may be valuable include Kliehauer-Betke; antiphospholipid antibodies, parvovirus, and syphilis serology; toxicology; and indirect Coombs. Further testing should be guided by the clinical situation and medical history. Induction of labor using prostaglandins or oxytocin is the most common method of delivery. However, under some circumstances, dilation and evacuation is a safe alternative during the second trimester. 25. Bukowski R Stillbirth and fetal growth restriction Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):673-80 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA. rkbukows at utmb.edu The association between stillbirth and fetal growth restriction is strong and supported by a large body of evidence and clinically employed for the stillbirth prediction. However, although assessment of fetal growth is a basis of clinical practice, it is not trivial. Essentially, fetal growth is a result of the genetic growth potential of the fetus and placental function. The growth potential is the driving force of fetal growth, whereas the placenta as the sole source of nutrients and oxygen might become the rate limiting element of fetal growth if its function is impaired. Thus, placental dysfunction may prevent the fetus from reaching its full genetically determined growth potential. In this sense fetal growth and its aberration provides an insight into placental function. Fetal growth is a proxy for the test of the effectiveness of placenta, whose function is otherwise obscured during pregnancy. 26. Pinar H, Carpenter M Placenta and umbilical cord abnormalities seen with stillbirth Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):656-72 Division of Perinatal and Pediatric Pathology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02905, USA. hpinar at wihri.org Placental lesions identified in cases of stillbirth are of clinical interest and are frequently invoked as having a causal role. However, most of the placental changes found in stillbirth are also seen in liveborn pregnancies, and are of uncertain pathogenetic significance. Much of the literature addressing placental lesions found in stillbirth is descriptive, listing cases of interest without adequate controls. Further, lesions are described qualitatively, often with inadequate description of examination and sampling protocols. In this manuscript we describe the placental characteristics that are most frequently listed in stillbirth case series, including entities associated with maternal diseases. First, we describe how macroscopic placental, cord, and membrane findings can provide answers to midwives and physicians at the time of delivery and how the placenta should be handled in the delivery room to optimize the histopathological examination. Second, we provide a brief organization of histological findings of the pathogenesis of conditions associated with fetal death. 27. Pauli RM Stillbirth: fetal disorders Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):646-55 Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA. pauli at waisman.wisc.edu Fetal disorders (including congenital malformations) are among the most frequent of causes of intrauterine death. Assessment to detect fetal processes is straightforward: history (prenatal, perinatal, and family); external clinical examination; photographs; whole body radiographs; cytogenetic investigation; and internal necropsy. Unfortunately such investigations are profoundly underused. When appropriately and nonselectively assessed, about one-fifth of all stillborn infants will be found to have a fetal cause of their death. Fetal diagnoses are markedly heterogeneous, with no single process accounting for more than 1.5% of all fetal deaths. Identifying a fetal cause has marked implications for the family and changes some elements of counseling and care in more than half of those whose stillborn infants were adequately evaluated. Currently unmet needs include research needs including efforts to understand the variability of intrauterine effects of fetal disorders and their causes, and clinical needs, particularly related to funding for evaluation of stillborns and development of geographically dispersed multidisciplinary commitment and expertise devoted to stillbirth evaluation. 28. Department of Epidemiology, Global School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA McClure EM, Dudley DJ, Reddy UM, Goldenberg RL Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):635-45 Infectious causes of stillbirth: a clinical perspective. Untreated infection may cause stillbirth by several mechanisms, including direct fetal infection, placental damage, and severe maternal illness. Many bacteria, viruses, and protozoa have been associated with stillbirth. In developed countries, up to 24% of stillbirths have been attributed to infection, although with increased availability of sophisticated diagnostics and rigorous screening, it appears likely that higher numbers may actually be associated with infection. In developed countries, ascending bacterial infection is usually the most common infectious cause of stillbirth, with a number of viral infections also an important factor. Screening, prevention, and treatment of maternal infections are important to reduce stillbirth risk. 29. Wapner RJ Genetics of stillbirth Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):628-34 Obstetrics & Gynecology, Columbia University, Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA. rw2191 at columbia.edu Approximately 25% of stillbirths have been attributed to genetic etiologies. The most common cytogenetic abnormalities are similar to those seen in liveborns and include 45X, trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. Cytogenetic abnormalities are more common when fetal structural anomalies are identified. Mendelian and metabolic causes of stillbirth are less well understood although single gene disorders can result in stillbirth. With new cytogenetic and molecular technologies additional genetic causes of stillbirth are likely to be described and will provide additional information for appropriate genetic counseling. 30. Werner EF, Lockwood CJ Thrombophilias and stillbirth Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):617-27 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. erika.werner at yale.edu It is often postulated that both inherited and acquired thrombophilias increase the risk of stillbirth. In an attempt to reduce this theoretical risk, pregnant patients with prior fetal losses and thrombophilias are anticoagulated. However, there is no definitive proof that thrombophilias are causally linked to stillbirth. Prospective studies have failed to establish a definitive link between inherited thrombophilias and stillbirth. The extant literature suggests that only high concentrations of antiphospholipid antibodies are associated with stillbirth. Moreover, when pregnant women with prior fetal losses even in these cases are placed on anticoagulation, it is unclear that their recurrence risk of stillbirth decreases. 31. Coletta J, Simpson LL Maternal medical disease and stillbirth Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):607-16 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA. Stillbirth is one of the most common adverse pregnancy outcomes in the United States. Although there are certain maternal medical conditions that increase the risk of antepartum fetal death, advances in medical and obstetric care have decreased its incidence. The objective of this review was to examine the current stillbirth rates reported in pregnancies complicated by common medical diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic renal disease, thyroid disorders, and cholestasis of pregnancy. Early diagnosis remains the key to provide increased surveillance and possible intervention to further decrease the likelihood of stillbirth. 32. Smith GC Predicting antepartum stillbirth Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):597-606 Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cambridge University, Rosie Maternity Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. gcss2 at cam.ac.uk Stillbirth affects approximately 1 in 200 pregnancies and is one of the most common serious complications of pregnancy. Stillbirth can occur as a consequence of diverse processes, including fetal abnormality, isoimmunization, infection, maternal preeclampsia, placental abruption, maternal medical conditions, complications of labor and delivery, growth restriction, and also often occurs in the absence of an apparent cause or predisposing factor. This review summarizes a number of factors which identify women at increased risk of stillbirth, including maternal characteristics, blood tests, and biophysical tests. 33. Fretts R Stillbirth epidemiology, risk factors, and opportunities for stillbirth prevention Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):588-96 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Harvard Medical School, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA. rfretts at vmed.org World-wide, there are between 3 and 4 million stillbirths delivered each year, 98% of these deaths occur in the developing world. Although there are very significant differences in the rate and causes of stillbirth in these settings, the study of stillbirth globally gives insight into the interaction between the fetal and maternal conditions in the setting of varying access to healthy food, access to medical care, treatment of infections, screening of congenital anomalies, education, and access to antepartum and intrapartum care. 34. Reddy UM Stillbirth. Foreword Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;53(3):586-7 Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. reddyu at mail.nih.gov 35. Signorello LB, Mulvihill JJ, Green DM, Munro HM, Stovall M, Weathers RE, Mertens AC, Whitton JA, Robison LL, Boice JD Jr Stillbirth and neonatal death in relation to radiation exposure before conception: a retrospective cohort study Lancet. 2010 Aug 21;376(9741):624-30. Epub 2010 Jul 23 International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. lisa at iei.us Comment in: Lancet. 2010 Aug 21;376(9741):570-2. BACKGROUND: The reproductive implications of mutagenic treatments given to children with cancer are not clear. By studying the risk of untoward pregnancy outcomes, we indirectly assessed the risk of transmission of germline damage to the offspring of survivors of childhood cancer who were given radiotherapy and chemotherapy. METHODS: We did a retrospective cohort analysis, within the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), of the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death among the offspring of men and women who had survived childhood cancer. Patients in CCSS were younger than 21 years at initial diagnosis of an eligible cancer, were treated at 25 US institutions and one Canadian institution, and had survived for at least 5 years after diagnosis. We quantified the chemotherapy given to patients, and the preconception radiation doses to the testes, ovaries, uterus, and pituitary gland, and related these to the risk of stillbirth or neonatal death using Poisson regression analysis. FINDINGS: Among 1148 men and 1657 women who had survived childhood cancer, there were 4946 pregnancies. Irradiation of the testes (16 [1%] of 1270; adjusted relative risk 0.8 [95% CI 0.4-1.6]; mean dose 0.53 Gy [SD 1.40]) and pituitary gland (17 [3%] of 510, 1.1 [0.5-2.4] for more than 20.00 Gy; mean dose 10.20 Gy [13.0] for women), and chemotherapy with alkylating drugs (26 [2%] of 1195 women, 0.9 [0.5-1.5]; ten [1%] of 732 men, 1.2 [0.5-2.5]) were not associated with an increased risk of stillbirth or neonatal death. Uterine and ovarian irradiation significantly increased risk of stillbirth and neonatal death at doses greater than 10.00 Gy (five [18%] of 28, 9.1 [3.4-24.6]). For girls treated before menarche, irradiation of the uterus and ovaries at doses as low as 1.00-2.49 Gy significantly increased the risk of stillbirth or neonatal death (three [4%] of 69, 4.7 [1.2-19.0]). INTERPRETATION: Our findings do not support concern about heritable genetic changes affecting the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death in the offspring of men exposed to gonadal irradiation. However, uterine and ovarian irradiation had serious adverse effects on the offspring that were probably related to uterine damage. Careful management is warranted of pregnancies in women given high doses of pelvic irradiation before puberty. FUNDING: Westlakes Research Institute, National Cancer Institute, and Children's Cancer Research Fund. 36. Stephenson MD, Kutteh WH, Purkiss S, Librach C, Schultz P, Houlihan E, Liao C Intravenous immunoglobulin and idiopathic secondary recurrent miscarriage: a multicentered randomized placebo-controlled trial Hum Reprod. 2010 Sep;25(9):2203-9. Epub 2010 Jul 15 University of Chicago Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue (MC 2050), Chicago, IL 60637, USA. mstephen at babies.bsd.uchicago.edu BACKGROUND: Idiopathic secondary recurrent miscarriage may be associated with an abnormal maternal immune response to subsequent pregnancies. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been studied in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with conflicting results. Therefore, a definitive trial was proposed. METHODS: We conducted an investigator-initiated, multicentered, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial comparing IVIG with saline in women with idiopathic secondary recurrent miscarriage, defined as a history of at least one prior ongoing pregnancy followed by three or more consecutive unexplained miscarriages. Subjects received either IVIG 500 mg/kg or the equivalent volume of normal saline. Preconception infusions were administered 14-21 days from the projected next menstrual period. With documentation of pregnancy, the subject received the same infusion every 4 weeks until 18-20 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was an ongoing pregnancy of at least 20 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients enrolled, of whom 47 had an index pregnancy. All ongoing pregnancies resulted in live births. Therefore, the live birth rates were 70% (16/23) in the IVIG group and 63% (15/24) in the control group (P = 0.760); odds ratio (OR) 1.37 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41-4.61]. Including only clinical pregnancies (embryo with cardiac activity at 6 weeks of gestation), the live birth rates were equivalent, 94% (16/17) and (15/16), respectively (P > 0.999); OR 1.07 (95% CI 0.06-18.62). Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating IVIG for idiopathic secondary recurrent miscarriage revealed live birth rates of 70% (31/44) in the IVIG group and 62% (28/45) in the control group (P = 0.503); common OR 1.44 (95% CI 0.59-3.48). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest RCT to date in which IVIG was evaluated in women with idiopathic secondary recurrent miscarriage; no treatment benefit was found. The meta-analysis, which combined our study results with two prior RCTs, also showed no significant effect of treatment with IVIG. _____________________________________________________________________________ Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center Georgetown University 2115 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 601 Washington, DC 20007 (866) 866-7437 toll free (202) 687-7466 local (202) 784-9777 fax info at sidscenter.org http://www.sidscenter.org These articles have been selected from PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine that includes over 19 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to 1948. PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources. More about PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ Copyright and Disclaimers at http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/disclaimer.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bertnesj at georgetown.edu Fri Sep 3 14:48:48 2010 From: bertnesj at georgetown.edu (Jolene Bertness) Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 14:48:48 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality Message-ID: The September 3, 2010, issue of MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is now available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/alert/2010/alert090310.html In this issue: September 3, 2010 1. National Campaigns Offer New Resources to Raise Community Awareness of Infant Mortality 2. Webcast Highlights Healthy Start and Early Head Start Collaboration (Multimedia Featured Resource) 3. Paper Addresses the Role of the Healthy Start Model in Health Reform 4. Study Explores Health and Safety Practices in Child Care Centers in Pennsylvania 5. Authors Analyze African Americans' Awareness of Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality Rates and Related Risk Factors MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is a free electronic newsletter issued on the last Friday of each month. The newsletter features research findings, policy developments, recently released publications, and new programs and initiatives related to sudden infant death, miscarriage, stillbirth, other infant death, and related topics. MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is developed by the Maternal and Child Health Library, in collaboration with the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center, at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University under its cooperative agreements with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To subscribe to MCH Alert, send an e-mail message to MCHAlert-request at lists.mchgroup.org with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. You do not need to enter any text in the body of the message. To unsubscribe from MCH Alert, send an e-mail message to MCHAlert-request at lists.mchgroup.org with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. You do not need to enter any text in the body of the message. To receive notice of new issues of MCH Alert, follow the MCH Library on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MCH_Library. We welcome your submissions, suggestions, and questions at MCHAlert at ncemch.org. --- Posted by: Jolene M. Bertness, M.Ed. Managing Editor, MCH Alert MCH Library Georgetown University Box 571727 Washington, DC 20057-1272 Voice: (202) 784-9554 Fax: (202) 784-9777 E-mail: bertnesj at georgetown.edu Web site: http://www.mchlibrary.info/alert Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mch_library From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Tue Sep 7 14:52:52 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 14:52:52 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] 2010 ASIP CONFERENCE: SIDS, SUID, Infant Safe Sleep, Bereavement Message-ID: 2010 ASIP CONFERENCE November 4-7, 2010 Westin Old Towne Alexandria, Virginia REGISTRATION OPEN! Click here! International Conference on Perinatal and Infant Death: Partners in Prevention, Research, Advocacy and Support Providing the continuum of professional education for those whose scope of work includes SIDS, SUID, infant safe sleep, infant mortality, and bereavement. With over 35 sessions, this conference is one of the few providing research, training and information on both prevention activities and bereavement support. PREVENTION Don't miss the half day Preconference workshop with Dr. Rachel Moon, Chair of the AAP Task for on Infant Sleep Position and SIDS. Dr. Moon will present the evidence and engage participants in "Hot Topics on Infant Safe Sleep" - like bedsharing, breastfeeding, and swaddling. Conference sessions include: * CPSC Infant Safe Sleep Campaign * Hospital safe sleep projects: evaluation findings and promising practices * Updates from NICHD on new safe sleep messaging * NIH Study of Attitudes and Factors Affecting Infant Care (SAFE) * SUID Case Registry Pilot Project * Infant safe sleep: cultural competence and indigenous populations * Evaluating crib distribution and safe sleep * Advances in SIDS and Stillbirth research * and more! BEREAVEMENT Preconference workshops provide an unparalleled opportunity for training from nationally respected bereavement programs and practitioners. ALERT FIMR colleagues!! NFIMR is offering a half-day workshop at no charge. Conference sessions include: * Research on bereavement care after infant loss * Relationship-based care for families * How men grieve * Cross-cultural perspectives * Research on parental experiences of infant death * Volunteer grief companion programs * Online peer support * Family panel discussions * and more! Co-sponsored by the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP) and the Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA). For complete conference details, please view the attached conference brochure. Registration questions: please email asip at asip1.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ASIP_PLIDA_Conference.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 1260535 bytes Desc: ASIP_PLIDA_Conference.pdf URL: From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Wed Sep 8 10:21:13 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 10:21:13 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] News from CPSC - Recall Message-ID: NEWS from CPSC and HC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov Health Canada www.hc-sc.gc.ca FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2010 Release #10-334 Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 347-8372 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 HC Media Contact: (613) 957-2983 Step2(r) Recalls Children's Transportation Station Toys Due to Choking Hazard WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. Name of Product: Sand & Water Transportation Station Toys Units: About 56,000 in the United States (7,700 in Canada) Distributor: Step2 Company, of Streetsboro, Ohio Hazard: The light blue plastic wheels on the train cars can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: The Step2 (r) Sand & Water Transportation Station is a standalone play station for children ages two and up. The toy station consists of: a round blue plastic table, including train tracks, train cars in blue, red and yellow, toy sailboats and a hand rake/shovel. A red Step2 logo decal is on the side of the table. Train cars with grey wheels are not included in this recall. Sold at: Target and other major retailers, specialty stores and by online retailers from December 2008 through June 2010 for between $49 and $59. Manufactured in: United States Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the train cars away from children and contact Step2 for free replacement cars. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Step2 at (800) 347-8372 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.step2.com Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1151 To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10334.html ******************************************************** 'CPSC 2.0' Launches Product Safety Agency into Social Media -- Learn more at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09346.html * Visit our new blog, OnSafety at www.cpsc.gov/onsafety * See our videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uscpsc * Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OnSafety * See our photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscpsc The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. ----------------------------- You are currently subscribed to the email list "child" as: sfrank at tcmisids.org To unsubscribe, please do one of the following: (1) go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx and use the on-line form (2) send a blank email to leave-2060672-355370.b3af0f8b07961e3f420142ccd9c4fa87 at list.cpsc.gov You can also go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx to change your subscription, or unsubscribe an old address and subscribe a new one. This message is from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an independent federal regulatory agency, located at 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 Toll-free hotline: (800) 638-2772 Thank you. From rbarzel at ncemch.org Thu Sep 9 10:46:59 2010 From: rbarzel at ncemch.org (Ruth Barzel) Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 10:46:59 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] =?windows-1252?q?NSIDRC_Journal_Article_Alert_?= =?windows-1252?q?=96_September_10=2C_2010?= Message-ID: NSIDRC Journal Article Alert ? September 10, 2010 Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University. Past issues of NSIDRC journal alerts are available at http://www.sidscenter.org. Availability of full-text journal articles is often limited to subscribers or through inter-library loan. Please see your local library for copies of these articles, or view PubMed's How to Get the Journal Article or Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce's How to Access Journal Articles at http://phpartners.org/howtoaccess.html for more details. _____________________________________________________________________________ Sudden Infant Death 1. Filonzi L, Magnani C, Nonnis Marzano F Confirmed association between monoamine oxidase A molecular polymorphisms and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Neurogenetics. 2010 Sep 7. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, University of Parma, Viale G.P. Usberti 11, 43100, Parma, Italy. Miscarriage/Stillbirth/Prenatal Issues 1. Tun?alp O, G?lmezoglu AM, Souza JP Surgical procedures for evacuating incomplete miscarriage Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Sep 8;9:CD001993 Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA, 21205. BACKGROUND: Incomplete miscarriage is a major problem that should be effectively managed with safe and appropriate procedures. Surgical evacuation of the uterus for management of incomplete miscarriage usually involves vacuum aspiration or sharp curettage. OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety and effectiveness of surgical uterine evacuation methods for management of incomplete miscarriage. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (July 2010). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized trials where different surgical methods were used to manage incomplete miscarriage were eligible for inclusion. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted population characteristics, settings, and exclusion criteria, in addition to outcomes such as complications of the procedure, duration, need for re-evacuation, blood transfusion, and analgesia/anesthesia. MAIN RESULTS: Two trials (involving 550 women) were included. Vacuum aspiration was associated with statistically significantly decreased blood loss (mean difference (MD) -17.10 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) -24.05 to -10.15 ml), less pain during the procedure (risk ratio (RR) 0.74, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.90), and shorter duration of the procedure (MD -1.20 minutes, 95% CI -1.53 to -0.87 minutes), than sharp metal curettage, in the single study that evaluated these outcomes in 357 women. Serious complications such as uterine perforation and other morbidity were rare and the sample sizes of the trials were not large enough to evaluate small or moderate differences. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Although the review indicates that vacuum aspiration is safe, quick to perform, and less painful than sharp curettage, and should be recommended for use in the management of incomplete miscarriage, the results are based on data from only one study. Analgesia and sedation should be provided as necessary for the procedure. 2. Nielsen HS, Wu F, Aghai Z, Steffensen R, van Halteren AG, Spierings E, Christiansen OB, Miklos D, Goulmy E H-Y antibody titers are increased in unexplained secondary recurrent miscarriage patients and associated with low male: female ratio in subsequent live births Hum Reprod. 2010 Sep 7. [Epub ahead of print] The Fertility Clinic 4071, University Hospital Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen ?, Denmark. BACKGROUND The birth of a boy is significantly more common than a girl prior to secondary recurrent miscarriage (SRM) and is associated with a poorer chance of a subsequent live birth. Children born after SRM are more likely to be girls. High-titer antisera specific for male antigens (H-Y) have been shown to arrest development of male bovine embryos efficiently. We consequently questioned the role of H-Y antibodies in women with SRM. METHODS Serum samples from patients with unexplained SRM (n = 84), unexplained primary recurrent miscarriage (PRM) (n = 12) and healthy women (n = 37) were obtained. The samples were taken during pregnancy (gestational weeks 4-5) for 77 (80%) of the patients. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies that specifically recognized any of the five recombinant H-Y proteins (EIF1AY, RPS4Y1, ZFY, DDX3Y and UTY) and their H-X homologs. RESULTS H-Y-specific antibodies were more frequent in SRM patients (46%) compared with female controls (19%, P = 0.004) and PRM patients (8%, P = 0.01). The presence of H-Y antibodies in early pregnancy was associated with a low male: female birth ratio among the subsequent live births, as only 12% of children born to H-Y antibody-positive patients were boys compared with 44% boys born to H-Y antibody negative patients (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS The high frequency of H-Y antibody-positive SRM patients and the association between the presence of these antibodies in early pregnancy and the low number of male offspring, suggest that maternal immune responses against H-Y antigens can cause pregnancy losses. Further exploring these mechanisms may increase our understanding of unexplained SRM. 3. Honig A, Engel JB, Segerer SE, Kranke P, H?usler S, W?rfel W Pregnancy-triggered antiphospholipid syndrome in a patient with multiple late miscarriages Hum Reprod. 2010 Sep 7. [Epub ahead of print] Department of OB/GYN, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multisystemic disorder of coagulation-causing thrombosis in the arterial and venous system as well as pregnancy-related complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery and pre-eclampsia. The disease is characterized by the autoimmune production of antibodies against phospholipid, a substance found in the cell membrane. We here report the case of a patient with four second trimester miscarriages, who apart from a heterozygous plasminogen activator-inhibitor-1 mutation, had no risk factors explaining her condition. In the subsequent pregnancy she was therefore put on low-molecular-weight heparin, aspirin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Antiphospholipid antibodies (APL), which had been negative before gestation, increased and remained high throughout pregnancy, thus suggesting a pregnancy-induced or -aggravated APS. The patient was kept on the above-mentioned medication and delivered a healthy male baby by Caesarean section after an otherwise uneventful pregnancy. Thus, in order to diagnose and treat pregnancy-triggered APS in patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriage, screening for APL should also be performed at several time points after conception. 4. Salihu HM, Duan J, Nabukera SK, Mbah AK, Alio AP Younger maternal age (at initiation of childbearing) and recurrent perinatal mortality Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 Sep 3. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; The Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether young maternal age at initiation of childbearing is associated with recurrence of perinatal mortality (PM), as well as its components: stillbirth and neonatal death. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study on the Missouri maternally linked longitudinal data files comprising adolescent (10-19 years; n=73,533) or mature (20-24 years; n=78,618) mothers in their first pregnancy with follow-up in their second pregnancy to document the occurrence of PM or its components. The study covered the period 1989-2005. We used unconditional logistic regression modeling to generate odds ratios and to control for confounding. RESULTS: A history of perinatal mortality, stillbirth, or neonatal mortality increased the risk of a recurrence by 4-5 times. Among women with a history of PM or stillbirth in the first pregnancy, maternal age at initiation of pregnancy was not a risk factor for subsequent PM or its components. However, adolescent mothers with a history of neonatal mortality in the first pregnancy were about 5 times as likely to experience stillbirth in the second pregnancy, as compared to their mature counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Young maternal age at the initiation of childbearing is not associated with an overall increased risk of recurrent perinatal loss. However, prior history of neonatal mortality among teen mothers is strongly predictive of subsequent stillbirth. 5. Aarabi M, Memariani T, Arefi S, Aarabi M, Hantoosh Zadeh S, Akhondi MA, Modarressi MH Polymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, angiotensin converting enzyme and coagulation factor XIII genes in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2010 Sep 7. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Reproductive Genetics, Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Tehran, Iran. We investigated polymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ) and coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) genes and their association with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in Iranian patients and normal healthy controls. Ten (18.5%) patients were homozygote (4G/4G) for PAI-1 polymorphism, in contrast with two (2%) controls (p = 0.001). Patients with homozygote 4G mutation were significantly more prone to RSA in contrast to others (odds ratio: 11.0, 95% CI: 2.3-52.4). Nineteen (30.2%) patients and 25 (26.6%) controls were homozygote (DD) for ACE polymorphism. We observed only two patients and one control with homozygosity (34leu) for FXIII polymorphism. 4G/4G polymorphism for PAI-1 gene could be a thrombophilic mutation leading to abortion in Iranian population. 6. Tveit JV, Saastad E, Stray-Pedersen B, Bordahl PE, Flenady V, Fretts R, Froen JF Correction: Reduction of late stillbirth with the introduction of fetal movement information and guidelines - a clinical quality improvement BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2010 Sep 2;10(1):49. [Epub ahead of print] ABSTRACT: We have performed a full cross-validation of this clinical Femina data collection against the routinely collected data of the Medical Birth Registry of Norway to validate the estimates of reduced mortality in the total population. The original estimate of fewer deaths during the intervention with OR 0.7 remains virtually unchanged for the original data collection. The validation procedures revealed inaccuracies in data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway for a partial comparison with mortality outside the study area, and we here correct this comparison. We present new, corrected and cross-validated data. Despite comparability issues, the most robust and cross-validated estimates confirm similar estimates of reduced mortality during the quality improvement intervention. _____________________________________________________________________________ Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center Georgetown University 2115 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 601 Washington, DC 20007 (866) 866-7437 toll free (202) 687-7466 local (202) 784-9777 fax info at sidscenter.org http://www.sidscenter.org These articles have been selected from PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine that includes over 19 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to 1948. PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources. More about PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ Copyright and Disclaimers at http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/disclaimer.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Fri Sep 10 12:21:48 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:21:48 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] SUID/SIDS Webinar Series - September 16, 2010 Message-ID: OPPORTUNITIES IN HEALTH REFORM TO PREVENT INFANT DEATH September 16, 2010 3:00pm - 4:30pm ET REGISTER NOW! Wondering about the impact of health reform on infant mortality programs? This webinar will provide updates and potential action steps on: * preconception health * home visiting programs * prevention funds There is no charge but participants must register to participate in the live webinar. Please click here to register. Speaker: Brent M. Ewig, MHS, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs Facilitator: Sandra Frank, JD, President, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs Co-Sponsored by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP). This is the third in a series of live, interactive webinars developed to provide participants with the latest research, resources, information, and tools regarding MCH, SUID, SIDS, infant mortality, and bereavement. For more information, please contact Jessica Hawkins at jhawkins at amchp.org or Sandra Frank at sfrank at asip1.org . Please forward this invitation to other interested colleagues. If you are unable to view the live webinar, the presentation will be archived on the websites of the National SUID Resource Center www.sidscenter.org and AMCHP www.amchp.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Wed Sep 15 09:27:35 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:27:35 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] News from CPSC - Two Recalls Message-ID: This message consists of the following: 1. Fun Stuff Recalls Children's Toys Due to Choking Hazard, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10341.html 2. Albee Baby Recalls C & T International/Sorelle Brand "Prescott" Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10344.html ******************************************************** 1. Fun Stuff Recalls Children's Toys Due to Choking Hazard U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2010 Release #10-341 Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 386-7833 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 Fun Stuff Recalls Children's Toys Due to Choking Hazard WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. Name of Products: Click Armband Bracelets, Klick Klick Balls and BoBo Balls. Units: About 14,400 Click Armband Bracelets, 7,900 Klick Klick Balls and 14,400 BoBo Balls Distributor: Fun Stuff Inc., of Newport News, Va. Hazard: The small balls on the end of the toy's arms can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. The toys were marketed for children age 3 and over. CPSC staff has designated these toys for children between the ages of 19 to 35 months. Incidents/Injuries: CPSC has received one report of a ball detaching in a 21-month old girl's mouth in Charlotte, N.C. No medical treatment was required. Description: The recalled bracelets and balls are made of stretchy, rubber material with hard plastic, colorful balls attached at the end of the toy's arms. The toys were sold with orange, green, pink, purple and blue colored balls. The BoBo balls have a flashing lighted ball encased in the stretchy material. The following item numbers are involved in this recall: Toy | Item Number Click Armband Bracelet | FS1842 Klick Klick Ball | FS1734 BoBo Ball | FS1814 The item number is located on the product packaging. Sold at: Beach resort stores nationwide from January 2009 through August 2010 for between $2 and $5. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from young children and return them to the place of purchase or contact Fun Stuff to receive a full refund. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fun Stuff toll-free at (888) 386-7833 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.funstuffinc.net To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10341.html ******************************************************** 2. Albee Baby Recalls C & T International/Sorelle Brand "Prescott" Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2010 Release #10-344 Firm's Recall Hotline: (877) 692-5233 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 Albee Baby Recalls C & T International/Sorelle Brand "Prescott" Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards Re-labeled Simplicity Cribs Contain Recalled Mattress Support Frames WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. Name of Product: Sorelle brand "Prescott" fixed-sided cribs Units: About 130 Retailer/Distributor: Albee Baby, of East Rutherford, N.J. Manufacturer: Simplicity Inc. (firm is no longer in business) Hazard: These cribs are re-labeled fixed-sided Simplicity cribs that contain tubular metal mattress-support frames recalled in April 2010. The mattress support frames can bend or detach, causing part of the mattress to drop, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped or fall out of the crib. Incidents/Injuries: In the April 2010 Simplicity recall, CPSC reported the death of a one-year-old child from Attleboro, Mass. who suffocated when he became entrapped between the crib mattress and the crib frame. In addition, CPSC has received reports of 29 incidents involving the Simplicity cribs where the cribs collapsed due to the metal mattress support frame detaching or bending. These include one child entrapment that did not result in injury and one child who suffered minor cuts when his head struck the broken mattress support bar. CPSC has received one report of a consumer who, in April of 2010, removed the Sorelle Prescott label from the crib and found a Simplicity crib label underneath. (The consumer purchased the crib in July of 2009, prior to the Simplicity mattress support recall.) Description: These are full-sized fixed-sided cribs sold in an oak finish, as 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 convertible cribs. "Sorelle Furniture" along with the company's address, the crib's model number and a manufacturer's code are printed on a label attached to the headboard or footboard. Sold at: This recall is limited to Sorelle "Prescott" cribs sold online by AlbeeBaby.com between July 2009 and October 2009 for between $180 and $210. Manufactured in: China. Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Albee Baby for a replacement crib, store credit or refund. C&T International/Albee Baby is attempting to directly contact known consumers who purchased the recalled crib online from July 2009 through October 2009. In the meantime, find an alternate, age appropriate, safe sleeping environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Albee Baby toll-free at (877) 692-5233 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.albeebaby.com Important Message from CPSC: CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for parts separating. Disengagements can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib. Babies have died in cribs where repairs were attempted by caregivers. Crib age is a factor in safety. At a minimum, CPSC staff recommends that you not use a crib that is older than 10 years. Many older cribs may not meet current voluntary standards and can have numerous safety problems. To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10344.html ******************************************************** 'CPSC 2.0' Launches Product Safety Agency into Social Media -- Learn more at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09346.html * Visit our new blog, OnSafety at www.cpsc.gov/onsafety * See our videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uscpsc * Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OnSafety * See our photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscpsc The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rbarzel at ncemch.org Thu Sep 16 10:09:39 2010 From: rbarzel at ncemch.org (Ruth Barzel) Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:09:39 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] =?windows-1252?q?NSIDRC_Journal_Article_Alert_?= =?windows-1252?q?=96_September_17=2C_2010?= Message-ID: NSIDRC Journal Article Alert ? September 17, 2010 Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University. Past issues of NSIDRC journal alerts are available at http://www.sidscenter.org. Availability of full-text journal articles is often limited to subscribers or through inter-library loan. Please see your local library for copies of these articles, or view PubMed's How to Get the Journal Article or Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce's How to Access Journal Articles at http://phpartners.org/howtoaccess.html for more details. _____________________________________________________________________________ Sudden Infant Death 1. M?llborg P, Wennergren G, Norvenius SG, Alm B BED SHARING AMONG SIX-MONTH-OLD INFANTS IN WESTERN SWEDEN Acta Paediatr. 2010 Sep 14. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.02008.x. [Epub ahead of print] Central Infant Welfare Unit, Uddevalla Hospital, Uddevalla Dept of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg. Aim: ? In spite of several reports of an increased risk of SIDS in connection with bed sharing, it is not an uncommon practice. The aim of this study was to examine bed sharing at six months of age and the factors that are associated with bed sharing. Methods:? Our cohort comprised 8,176 randomly chosen families. At six month of age the families received an invitation to the study, with a questionnaire, which was completed by 5,605 families (response rate 68.5%). Results:? 19.8% of the families bed shared. In the multivariate analysis, we found a correlation between breast-feeding and bed sharing (breast-feeding at 6 months: OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.56, 2.41). Moreover, we found an association with 3+ nightly awakenings at six months (2.70; 2.20, 3.32). It was more common to share a bed if the parent was single (2.04; 1.19, 3.51) and less common if the infant was bottle fed in the first week (0.70; 0.54, 0.90). Never using a pacifier was associated with a higher frequency of bed sharing. Conclusion:? We found a correlation between breast-feeding and bed sharing as well as with sleeping problems and a single parent. A lower percentage of infants sleeping in the parental bed was seen in association with formula feeding in the first week after birth. Miscarriage/Stillbirth/Prenatal Issues 1. Warland J, McCutcheon H The 'quit' smoker and stillbirth risk: A review of contemporary literature in the light of findings from a case-control study Midwifery. 2010 Sep 10. [Epub ahead of print] School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, City East Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, Australia. OBJECTIVE: to identify existing literature which addresses the topic of detecting, assessing and intervening when a pregnant woman who has quit smoking relapses. This literature review was conducted in the light of findings of a case-control study which suggest that a quit smoking status is associated with increased risk of late stillbirth (odds ratio 3.03, 95% confidence interval 1.27-7.24, p=0.01). METHOD: a structured review was conducted to identify literature related to quitting smoking in early pregnancy, prevalence and likelihood of relapse, possible methods for detecting smoking resumption, potential intervention strategies for the relapsed smoker and the societal burden of continuing to smoke in pregnancy. FINDINGS: there is a wide variety of evidence for the effectiveness of intervention strategies aimed at assisting women to quit smoking during pregnancy. However, few studies have specifically aimed to identify strategies to assist those women who report quitting in early pregnancy to maintain that status throughout pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: in light of the results of the case-control study and this literature review, it is important that changes are made to prenatal care in order to enable midwives to better identify women who are struggling with abstinence or who resume smoking during pregnancy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: midwives should discuss and monitor smoking status with women at every prenatal visit. If a midwife finds that a woman has relapsed into smoking, they can be offered a range of quit smoking intervention strategies, including referral to a dedicated cessation service, counselling support, alternative therapies and, perhaps, nicotine replacement therapy. Further research aimed at identifying the extent of relapse among these women and the impact this may have on pregnancy outcome is warranted. Research to ascertain the most appropriate interventions to prevent relapse is also needed. 2. Brkic S, Bogavac MA, Simin N, Hrnjakovic-Cvetkovic I, Milosevic V, Maric D Unusual high rate of asymptomatic maternal parvovirus B19 infection associated with severe fetal outcome J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2010 Sep 9. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Centre Vojvodina, Novi Sad, 21000 Serbia. Abstract Objective. ?To study the role of asymptomatic maternal parvo B19 infection in severe fetal outcome in Province of Vojvodina. Methods.?One hundred seventy-six pregnant women (13-25 weeks of gestation) were divided in two groups - patients with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion and poor pregnancy outcome and patients with normal course of pregnancy. Double serum samples were analyzed to quantify IgM and IgG to parvovirus B19. Results.?Among pregnant women with symptoms of spontaneous abortion, we found significantly higher percentage of acute parvovirus B19 infection. Conclusions.?Asymptomatic parvo B19 infection is associated with poor fetal outcome much more than we presumed previously. _____________________________________________________________________________ Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center Georgetown University 2115 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 601 Washington, DC 20007 (866) 866-7437 toll free (202) 687-7466 local (202) 784-9777 fax info at sidscenter.org http://www.sidscenter.org These articles have been selected from PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine that includes over 19 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to 1948. PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources. More about PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ Copyright and Disclaimers at http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/disclaimer.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ECarlins at Sids-pa.org Mon Sep 20 14:47:24 2010 From: ECarlins at Sids-pa.org (Eileen Carlins) Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:47:24 +0000 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] SIDS Quilt Question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear SIDS Colleagues, I am searching for information about a SIDS quilt that was put together by a SIDS group in the late 1990's-probably 1996 or later. A woman called me whose mother had lost a baby boy to SIDS in 1954 and she had made a square for a SIDS quilt and sent it in to someone and was told she would be sent a photo of the completed quilt, but never received it and she cannot recall where she sent it. I referred her to First Candle, but they said they have no quilts, and I remember making a felt quilt square for a memorial service at the International SIDS Conference in 1996, but that was just for a memorial service and made at the conference. This woman made the square and mailed it in to a group somewhere! The daughter of this woman is trying to track down this quilt so she can get a photo to give to her mother for her birthday as her mother is elderly and in failing health. Please, can anyone recall which group might have made a quilt in the mid-to-late 1990's? The little baby's name was "Michael Hiltz". I hope to be able to get this information for this family. Please call me or email me with any information. Sincerely, Eileen M. Carlins, MSW, LSW Director--Support & Education S.I.D.S. of PA Suite 250 Riverfront Place 810 River Ave. Pgh., PA 15212 (412) 322-5680 x 4 ecarlins at sids-pa.org "To save the world, you must start by saving a child." (Chinese Proverb) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rbarzel at ncemch.org Thu Sep 23 12:53:14 2010 From: rbarzel at ncemch.org (Ruth Barzel) Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:53:14 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] =?windows-1252?q?NSIDRC_Journal_Article_Alert_?= =?windows-1252?q?=96_September_24=2C_2010?= Message-ID: NSIDRC Journal Article Alert ? September 24, 2010 Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University. Past issues of NSIDRC journal alerts are available at http://www.sidscenter.org. Availability of full-text journal articles is often limited to subscribers or through inter-library loan. Please see your local library for copies of these articles, or view PubMed's How to Get the Journal Article or Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce's How to Access Journal Articles at http://phpartners.org/howtoaccess.html for more details. _____________________________________________________________________________ Sudden Infant Death 1. Dattani N, Bhat R, Rafferty GF, Hannam S, Greenough A Survey of sleeping position recommendations for prematurely born infants Eur J Pediatr. 2010 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print] Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, London, UK. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome is increased in prematurely born infants compared to those born at term, particularly if they are either slept prone or on their side. The aim of this study was to determine whether a national campaign "Time to get back to sleep" had influenced the recommendations made by neonatal practitioners regarding the sleeping position for prematurely born babies prior to and after neonatal unit discharge. A questionnaire survey was sent to all UK neonatal units, of which 90% responded. The results were compared to those of a survey carried out prior to the national campaign. Analysis of the responses demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the proportion of units which recommended supine sleeping at least 1-2 weeks before discharge (78% versus 83%). Still, a minority of units provided written information for staff (26% versus 33%), but a greater proportion of units provided written information for parents (95% versus 90%, p?=?0.047). All units recommended supine sleeping following discharge, and compared to the results of the previous survey, a smaller proportion of units additionally recommended side sleeping after discharge (8% versus 17%, p?=?0.01) and a greater proportion actively discouraged prone sleeping (62% versus 38%, p? From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Fri Sep 24 08:32:20 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:32:20 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] News from CPSC - Press Release Message-ID: NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2010 Release #10-351 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 CPSC Urges Parents to Inspect and Secure TVs, Furniture, and Appliances in Child-Proofing Efforts On average, one child dies every two weeks due to tipovers WASHINGTON, D.C. - Many parents and caregivers may not be aware that one of the top hidden hazards in the homes where young children live or visit is unsecured and unstable TVs, furniture and appliances. Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging families to take a moment to inspect and secure these items to prevent any more tragedies. Between 2000 and 2008, CPSC staff received reports of nearly 200 tipover related deaths involving children eight years old and younger. Nearly all of these fatalities (93%) involved children five years old and younger. More than 16,000 children five years old and younger were treated in emergency rooms because of injuries associated with TVs, furniture, and appliance tipovers according to CPSC staff's most recent estimates from 2006. "Large TVs and unstable furniture can be a deadly combination. Taking simple, low-cost steps to secure furniture and TVs can save lives," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Parents need to know about this hidden danger and take action now." Typically, injuries and deaths occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests and appliances. In some cases, televisions placed on top of furniture will tip over and cause a child to suffer traumatic and sometimes fatal injuries. To help prevent tip-over hazards, the CPSC offers the following safety tips: Furniture should be stable on its own. For added security, anchor chests, dressers, TV stands, bookcases and entertainment units to the floor or attach them to a wall. Place TVs on a sturdy, low-rise base. Avoid flimsy shelves. Push the TV as far back on its stand as possible. Place electrical cords out of a child's reach and teach kids not to play with them. Keep remote controls and other attractive items off the TV stand so kids won't be tempted to grab for them and risk knocking the TV over. Make sure free-standing ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets. This year, the CPSC is intensifying its outreach efforts by partnering with numerous organizations, including clinics and second-hand stores, to disseminate a two minute PSA including a powerful testimonial of a parent who lost her two-year-old in a TV tipover incident and a poster. In addition, consumers will be able to stream a 20 second version of the PSA through October 23, 2010 by texting TVFALL to 878787. Consumers can also download CPSC's updated safety alert. To see this press release on CPSC's web site, including links to videos and documents, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10351.html ******************************************************** 'CPSC 2.0' Launches Product Safety Agency into Social Media -- Learn more at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09346.html * Visit our new blog, OnSafety at www.cpsc.gov/onsafety * See our videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uscpsc * Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OnSafety * See our photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscpsc The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Fri Sep 24 10:16:21 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:16:21 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] Infant Formulas Recalled Message-ID: Abbott Voluntarily Recalls Certain Similac(r) Brand Powder Infant Formulas That Did Not Meet Its Quality Standards Abbott Park, Illinois- Abbott is initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of certain Similac-brand, powder infant formulas in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and some countries in the Caribbean. The recall of these powder infant formulas includes: * Certain Similac powder product lines offered in plastic containers. * Certain Similac powder product lines offered in sizes such as 8-ounce, 12.4-ounce and 12.9-ounce cans. To immediately find out if the product in your possession is included in this recall, parents and caregivers should visit www.similac.com/recall , and type in their lot number to determine if their product is affected,or call (800) 986-8850. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bertnesj at georgetown.edu Fri Sep 24 15:56:56 2010 From: bertnesj at georgetown.edu (Jolene Bertness) Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:56:56 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality Message-ID: The September 24, 2010, issue of MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is now available at http://mchlibrary.info/alert/2010/alert092410.html In this issue: 1. MCH Library Commemorates National Observances with New Edition of Knowledge Path 2. AAP Supports Legislation to Enhance Child Fatality Review Process and Recommends That Pediatricians Become Involved 3. Case Study Focuses on Program to Deliver Preconception Counseling During Early Adolescence 4. Analysis Evaluates Associations Between Hospital Level at Birth and Neonatal or Pre-Discharge Death 5. Article Examines Racial and Ethnic Variations in Fetal and First Day Infant Deaths MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is a free electronic newsletter issued on the last Friday of each month. The newsletter features research findings, policy developments, recently released publications, and new programs and initiatives related to sudden infant death, miscarriage, stillbirth, other infant death, and related topics. MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is developed by the Maternal and Child Health Library, in collaboration with the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center, at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University under its cooperative agreements with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To subscribe to MCH Alert, send an e-mail message to MCHAlert-request at lists.mchgroup.org with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. You do not need to enter any text in the body of the message. To unsubscribe from MCH Alert, send an e-mail message to MCHAlert-request at lists.mchgroup.org with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. You do not need to enter any text in the body of the message. To receive notice of new issues of MCH Alert, follow the MCH Library on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MCH_Library. We welcome your submissions, suggestions, and questions at MCHAlert at ncemch.org. --- Posted by: Jolene M. Bertness, M.Ed. Managing Editor, MCH Alert MCH Library Georgetown University Box 571727 Washington, DC 20057-1272 Voice: (202) 784-9554 Fax: (202) 784-9777 E-mail: bertnesj at georgetown.edu Web site: http://www.mchlibrary.info/alert Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mch_library From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Wed Sep 29 14:02:06 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:02:06 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] CPSC and FDA Warn Consumers to Stop Using Infant Sleep Positioners Message-ID: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to stop using infant sleep positioners. Infant sleep positioners are devices intended to keep a baby in a desired position while sleeping. Infant sleep positioners can be purchased over-the-counter at retail stores or on websites. They are marketed for use in homes and medical facilities. FDA held a joint media briefing on the safety of infant sleep positioners today, Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. A replay of the briefing will be available about one hour after the call ends until October 29, 2010, by calling 1-866-462-8976, or for international calls, 1-203-369-1362. The briefing will involve discussions led by Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Joshua Sharfstein, M.D., Principal Deputy Commissioner, FDA and Rachel Moon, M.D., Chair, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Task Force, American Academy of Pediatrics followed by a Question and Answer session for credentialed media. Stakeholders are invited to listen to this briefing. Additional information related to today's announcement will be available on FDA's website, www.fda.gov at approximately 12:00 noon. If you have questions about this communication, please contact the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance (DSMICA) at DSMICA at FDA.HHS.GOV, 800-638-2041, or 301-796-7100. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Wed Sep 29 14:19:11 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:19:11 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] Infant sleep positioners: Consumer Warning - Risk of Suffocation Message-ID: Infant sleep positioners: Consumer Warning - Risk of Suffocation AUDIENCE: Consumers, Pediatrics ISSUE: FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning not to use Infant sleep positioners. In the last 13 years, the federal government has received 12 reports of babies known to have died from suffocation associated with their sleep positioners. Most of the babies suffocated after rolling from the side to the stomach. BACKGROUND: The most common types of sleep positioners feature bolsters attached to each side of a thin mat and wedges to elevate the baby's head. The sleep positioners are intended to keep a baby in a desired position while sleeping. They are often used with infants under 6 months old. RECOMMENDATION: Consumers are warned to stop using infant positioning products. Never put pillows, sleep positioners, comforters, or quilts under the baby or in the crib. Always place a baby on his or her back at night and during nap time. See the Consumer Update for links to additional information, including product photos. Read the MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the FDA Consumer Update, at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHuma nMedicalProducts/ucm227733.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rbarzel at ncemch.org Thu Sep 30 09:30:41 2010 From: rbarzel at ncemch.org (Ruth Barzel) Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:30:41 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] =?windows-1252?q?NSIDRC_Journal_Article_Alert_?= =?windows-1252?q?=96_October_1=2C_2010?= Message-ID: NSIDRC Journal Article Alert ? October 1, 2010 Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University. Past issues of NSIDRC journal alerts are available at http://www.sidscenter.org. Availability of full-text journal articles is often limited to subscribers or through inter-library loan. Please see your local library for copies of these articles, or view PubMed's How to Get the Journal Article or Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce's How to Access Journal Articles at http://phpartners.org/howtoaccess.html for more details. _____________________________________________________________________________ Miscarriage/Stillbirth/Prenatal Issues 1. Oron G, Ben-Haroush A, Goldfarb R, Molad Y, Hod M, Bar J Contribution of the addition of anti-β2-glycoprotein to the classification of antiphospholipid syndrome in predicting adverse pregnancy outcome J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2010 Sep 28. [Epub ahead of print] Perinatal Division, The Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Petach Tikva. Objectives. Anti-β2 glycoprotein 1 (a-β2GP1) was added to the criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in 2005. However, its clinical significance with respect to complications of pregnancy is not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of laboratory findings of a-β2GP1 with events of thromboembolism or obstetric complications (pregnancy loss, placental dysfunction, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, fetal death, and preterm delivery) in women with clinical and laboratory evidence of APS. Methods. A retrospective cohort design was used. Ninety-one patients (total 394 pregnancies) referred to a tertiary medical center for evaluation of clinical features consistent with APS were divided into three groups: group A (n = 34), two positive tests for anticardiolipin (ACL) or lupus anticoagulant (LAC), in accordance with original APS classification (1998); group B (n = 18), two positive tests for a-β2GP1, in accordance with the revised APS criteria; and group C (n = 39), only one positive test for ACL or LAC. Results. Of the 52 women with APS (group A or B), 36 had primary disease, and 16 had secondary disease. On comparison of the groups, group B was characterized by a significantly higher rate of complicated pregnancy (83.3%) than groups A (47.1%) and C (76.9%), P = 0.007, and a higher rate of fetal loss (72.2%) than groups A + C (28.8%, P = 0.001). Conclusions. The findings suggest that the revised APS criteria are preferable to the original classification for the prediction of complicated pregnancy. 2. Pericleous C, Ioannou Y New therapeutic targets for the antiphospholipid syndrome Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2010 Sep 28. [Epub ahead of print] Centre for Rheumatology Research, University College London, Division of Medicine, Room 331, Third Floor, Windeyer Building, 46 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JF, UK +44 207 6799684 ; +44 207 6799143 ; j.ioannou at ich.ucl.ac.uk. Importance of the field: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition whereby pathogenic antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) cause vascular thrombosis and/or recurrent miscarriage, and carries a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Currently the only proven treatment is long-term anticoagulation, which is not effective in all patients and carries risk of haemorrhage. Areas covered in this review: Novel therapeutic targets that are currently being explored for APS in order to address the unmet needs of better, safer and ideally targeted therapy. These include B cell depletion, new-generation anticoagulants, interfering with aPL cell-mediated activation of endothelial cells and platelets both at the cell surface level and intracellularly, targeting components of the complement system and the novel concept of using decoy peptides to target only the pathogenic sub-population of aPL. What the reader will gain: An overview of the potential targets and rationale underpinning them. Take home message: Though current options remain limited for the treatment of APS, the future holds much promise with the identification of multiple targets, many of which are currently being explored. The challenge will be to undertake carefully designed prospective multi-centre trials to generate the evidence necessary to support integration of such candidates into clinical practice. 3. Valera MC, Parant O, Vayssiere C, Arnal JF, Payrastre B Physiologic and pathologic changes of platelets in pregnancy Platelets. 2010 Sep 27. [Epub ahead of print] INSERM U858, I2MR, Equipe 9, CHU Rangueil, BP 84225, 31432 Toulouse cedex 4, France. Platelets are key players in haemostasis and thrombus formation. Defects affecting platelets during pregnancy can lead to heterogeneous complications, such as thrombosis, first trimester miscarriage and postpartum haemorrhage. The incidence of complications is increased in women who have heritable platelet function disorders. Modifications of platelet count or platelet functions during normal pregnancy and preeclampsia will be summarized and the management of pregnant women with heritable platelet function disorders will be discussed. 4. Pisco JM, Duarte M, Bilhim T, Cirurgi?o F, Oliveira AG Pregnancy after uterine fibroid embolization Fertil Steril. 2010 Sep 24. [Epub ahead of print] Department of Radiology, St. Louis Hospital, Faculty of Medical Sciences, New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of pregnancy after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Private hospital affiliated with a university. PATIENT(S): In a single center, UFE was performed in 74 patients who wanted to become pregnant. INTERVENTION(S): Polyvinyl alcohol particles (PVA) or embozene microspheres were used to embolize the uterine arteries. Enhanced pelvic magnetic resonance was performed before UFE and 6 months after UFE in all patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The number of pregnancies and their development. RESULT(S): Of the 74 women who wanted to become pregnant, 44 of them became pregnant (59.5%). There are five (11.3%) ongoing pregnancies and 39 (88.7%) finished pregnancies, with 33 successful live births (84.6%), four spontaneous abortions (10.3%), one induced abortion, and one stillbirth. There were 22 cesarean deliveries (66.6%), two preterm deliveries at 36 weeks (6.1%), and five low birth weights. CONCLUSION(S): Pregnancy after UFE appears to be safe. _____________________________________________________________________________ Prepared by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center Georgetown University 2115 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 601 Washington, DC 20007 (866) 866-7437 toll free (202) 687-7466 local (202) 784-9777 fax info at sidscenter.org http://www.sidscenter.org These articles have been selected from PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine that includes over 19 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to 1948. PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources. More about PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ Copyright and Disclaimers at http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/disclaimer.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Thu Sep 30 14:05:47 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:05:47 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] SIDS Quilt Question In-Reply-To: <416069D0F7EA42C3AC5D677B64FBF508@tcmi.local> References: <416069D0F7EA42C3AC5D677B64FBF508@tcmi.local> Message-ID: Note to subscribers: We had several responses to the posting asking about a quilt. All were forwarded directly to Eileen Carlins. From: listserv-bounces at suid-im-projectimpact.org [mailto:listserv-bounces at suid-im-projectimpact.org] On Behalf Of Eileen Carlins Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 12:31 PM To: Project Impact Listserv Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] SIDS Quilt Question Dear SIDS Colleagues, I am searching for information about a SIDS quilt that was put together by a SIDS group in the late 1990's-probably 1996 or later. A woman called me whose mother had lost a baby boy to SIDS in 1954 and she had made a square for a SIDS quilt and sent it in to someone and was told she would be sent a photo of the completed quilt, but never received it and she cannot recall where she sent it. I referred her to First Candle, but they said they have no quilts, and I remember making a felt quilt square for a memorial service at the International SIDS Conference in 1996, but that was just for a memorial service and made at the conference. This woman made the square and mailed it in to a group somewhere! The daughter of this woman is trying to track down this quilt so she can get a photo to give to her mother for her birthday as her mother is elderly and in failing health. Please, can anyone recall which group might have made a quilt in the mid-to-late 1990's? The little baby's name was "Michael Hiltz". I hope to be able to get this information for this family. Please call me or email me with any information. Sincerely, Eileen M. Carlins, MSW, LSW Director--Support & Education S.I.D.S. of PA Suite 250 Riverfront Place 810 River Ave. Pgh., PA 15212 (412) 322-5680 x 4 ecarlins at sids-pa.org "To save the world, you must start by saving a child." (Chinese Proverb) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com Thu Sep 30 16:33:35 2010 From: mosgerby at sidsprojectimpact.com (Mark Osgerby) Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:33:35 -0400 Subject: [SUID-IM-Listserv] Fisher-Price recalls more than 11M kid products Message-ID: WASHINGTON - Fisher-Price is recalling more than 11 million tricycles, toys and high chairs over safety concerns. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that the high chairs and tricycles were blamed for children's injuries. Fisher-Price is also recalling more than 1 million Healthy Care, Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs, after 14 reports of problems. The pegs on the back of the high chairs can be used to store the tray, but children can fall on them, resulting in cuts and other injuries. Seven children required stitches, the commission said. The trikes - some of which feature popular characters like Dora the Explorer and Barbie - have a protruding plastic ignition key near the seat that children can strike, sit on or fall on, leading to injuries that the commission said can include genital bleeding. Consumers can visit the company's website at http://www.service.mattel.com for more information on the dates of sale and model numbers for the recalled products. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: