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Biomedical subjects

N Sebire

Publications and source records attributed to N Sebire.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Management of fulminating ulcerative colitis in childhood with chimeric anti-CD25 antibody.

Fulminating acute ulcerative colitis (UC) is a potentially life threatening medical emergency. Up to 30% of individuals respond poorly to corticosteroids alone and second line medical or surgical therapies are indicated. We describe the successful use of chimeric anti-CD25 therapy in 4 such children poorly responsive to combined therapy with intravenous steroids and calcineurin inhibitors with a pretreatment predictive risk of colectomy of 85-100%. Clinical disease activity scores normalized within 72 hours of anti-CD25 administration and colonic histology provided evidence of mucosal healing within 10-14 days. None required emergency colectomy. Anti-CD25 is efficacious in fulminating UC and randomized placebo controlled trials appear indicated.

Acute Disease↗

Screening for trisomy 21 in monochorionic twins by measurement of fetal nuchal translucency thickness.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether in screening for trisomy 21 by measurement of fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness in monochorionic twin pregnancies it is preferable to use the higher, smaller or average NT. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 769 monochorionic twin pregnancies that had undergone NT screening. The selection criteria were that first, in each pregnancy both fetuses were alive at the 11 to 13 + 6-week scan and second, the fetal karyotype had been determined by prenatal invasive testing or the pregnancy outcome was known. In each pregnancy the risk for trisomy 21 was calculated by a combination of maternal age and fetal NT for crown-rump length (CRL). Three estimates of risk for each pregnancy were made using the higher, smaller and average NT and these were compared for detection and false positive rates. RESULTS: The median maternal age was 33 (range, 16-45) years, the CRL was 62 (range, 45-84) mm and gestational age was 12 (range, 11 to 13 + 6) weeks. Either the fetal karyotype was normal, or phenotypically normal babies were born, in 761 cases. The karyotype was abnormal in eight cases, including six with trisomy 21. The estimated risk using the higher, smaller and average NT was 1 in 300 or more in 6 (100%), 4 (66.7%) and 6 (100%) of the trisomy 21 pregnancies and in 148 (19.4%), 57 (7.5%) and 106 (13.9%) of the normal pregnancies. For a detection rate of 100%, the false positive rates using the higher, smaller and average NT would be 5.1%, 45.9% and 4.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In monochorionic twins, effective screening for trisomy 21 is best provided by using the average NT measured in the two fetuses.

Adolescent↗

4S neuroblastoma: the long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: Stage 4S neuroblastoma is associated with a high rate of spontaneous maturation and involution, with survival rates of 70-90%. There is little long-term follow-up data describing the disease status or late effects. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcome and imaging findings in long-term survivors of 4S neuroblastoma. METHODS: The patient population was identified from a single centre over 26 years. Twenty-five of 31 consecutive patients were long-term survivors. Five died from disease progression and one from cerebral palsy related complications. All survivors underwent clinical examination. Abdominal ultrasound scanning, liver function tests, hepatitis viral screen, and urinary catecholamines were performed. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 8 +/- 9 weeks with a mean age when studied of 11 years and 10 months +/- 8 years. Twenty of 25 had no significant clinical findings, three had disease associated clinical abnormalities (neurological, multiple subcutaneous nodules). Three patients had treatment related effects (small testes, urethral stricture, radiation induced soft tissue hypoplasia, post-surgical Horners syndrome). Persistant adrenal enlargement and calcification was noted in three patients. Twelve patients had abnormal liver ultrasound findings ranging from mildly coarse echotexture to structural changes without evidence of hepatic dysfunction or infection. Treatment did not correlate with abnormal hepatic ultrasound findings. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of long-term survivors of stage 4S neuroblastoma have no clinically or radiologically significant sequelae but do have residual abnormalities. These findings have implications for subsequent management of unrelated medical conditions in this patient group.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Obstetric risks of pregnancy in women less than 18 years old.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the age-related risks of adverse outcome during pregnancy in women less than 18 years old. METHODS: We analyzed data from 341,708 completed singleton pregnancies in the North West Thames region between 1988 and 1997. Pregnancy outcomes were compared by age at delivery in women less than 18 years old (n = 5246) and 18-34 years old (n = 336,462); women 35 years old or older (n = 48,658) were excluded. Data are presented as percentages of women less than 18 and 18-34-year-old women, with adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 99% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Pregnancy in women less than 18 years old was associated with increased risk of preterm labor before 32 weeks' gestation (OR 1.41, CI 1.02, 1.90), maternal anemia (OR 1.82, CI 1.63, 2.03), chest infection (OR 2.70, CI 1.21, 6.70), and urinary tract infection (OR 1.60, CI 1.11, 2.31), but less obstetric intervention. Operative vaginal delivery (OR 0. 46, CI 0.41, 0.56), elective cesarean (OR 0.47, CI 0.35, 0.65), or emergency cesarean (OR 0.45, CI 0.38, 0.53) were all less likely in women aged less than 18 years. Women less than 18 years old were no more likely to have stillbirths (OR 0.75, CI 0.42, 1.34) or small-for-gestational-age infants (OR 0.95, CI 0.82, 1.09) than women aged 18-34 years. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women less than 18 years old were more likely to deliver preterm than older women. In most other respects they have less maternal and perinatal morbidity and were more likely to have normal vaginal deliveries.

Adolescent↗

The risks associated with pregnancy in women aged 35 years or older.

The obstetric risks of adverse outcome during pregnancy in women aged > or =35 years were quantified using a retrospective analysis of data from 385 120 singleton pregnancies in the North West Thames Region, UK, between 1988 and 1997. A comparison of pregnancy outcome was made on the basis of maternal age at delivery: 18-34 years (n = 336 462), 35-40 years (n = 41 327) and women aged > 40 years (n = 7331). Women aged <18 years (n = 5246) were excluded from the study. Data are presented as percentages of 18-34 year old women, 35-40 year old and > 40 year old women, with adjusted odds ratios (OR) according to age group. Pregnant women aged 35-40 years were at increased risk of: gestational diabetes, OR = 2.63 [99% confidence interval (CI) 2.40-2.89]; placenta praevia = 1.93 (1.58-2.35); breech presentation = 1.37 (1.28-1.47); operative vaginal delivery = 1.5 (1.43-1.57); elective Caesarean section = 1.77 (1.68-1.87); emergency Caesarean section = 1.59 (1.52-1.67); postpartum haemorrhage = 1.14 (1.09-1.19); delivery before 32 weeks gestation = 1.41 (1.24-1.61); birthweight below the 5th centile = 1.28 (1.20-1. 36); and stillbirth = 1.41 (1.17-1.70). Women aged >40 years had higher OR for the same risks. Pregnant women aged >/=35 years are at increased risk of complications in pregnancy compared with younger women.

Adult↗

UK multicentre project on assessment of risk of trisomy 21 by maternal age and fetal nuchal-translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation. Fetal Medicine Foundation First Trimester Screening Group.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 currently relies on assessment of risk followed by invasive testing in the 5% of pregnancies at the highest estimated risk. Selection of the high-risk group by a combination of maternal age and second-trimester maternal serum biochemistry gives a detection rate of about 60%. We investigated assessment of risk by a combination of maternal age and fetal nuchal-translucency thickness, measured by ultrasonography at 10-14 weeks of gestation. METHODS: The risk of trisomy 21 was estimated for 96127 women of median age 31 years (range 14-49) with singleton pregnancies. Ultrasonography was done by 306 appropriately trained sonographers in 22 centres. Risk of trisomy 21 was calculated from the maternal age and gestational-age-related prevalence, multiplied by a likelihood ratio depending on the deviation from normal in nuchal-translucency thickness for crown-rump length. The distribution of risks was investigated and the sensitivity of a cut-off risk of 1 in 300 was calculated. Phenotype was assessed by fetal karyotyping or clinical examination of liveborn infants. FINDINGS: The estimated trisomy-21 risk, from maternal age and fetal nuchal-translucency thickness, was 1 in 300 or higher in 7907 (8.3%) of 95476 normal pregnancies, 268 (82-2%) of 326 with trisomy 21, and 253 (77.9%) of 325 with other chromosomal defects. The 5% of the study population with the highest estimated risk included 77% of trisomy-21 cases. INTERPRETATION: Selection of the high-risk group for invasive testing by this method allows the detection of about 80% of affected pregnancies. However, even this method of risk assessment requires about 30 invasive tests for identification of one affected fetus.

Adolescent↗

Endoscopic laser coagulation in the management of severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical effectiveness of endoscopic laser coagulation of placental vessels in the treatment of severe transfusion syndrome. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Three referral centres for the management of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. POPULATION: One hundred and thirty-two pregnancies complicated by severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, reflected by polyhydramnios and enlarged bladder of one twin and oligoanhydramnios and collapsed bladder of the other twin, presenting before 28 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Prospective collection of data on pre-procedure assessment, the procedure and the follow up were collected prospectively. Laser coagulation of placental vessels crossing the intertwin membrane on the chorionic surface under sono-endoscopic guidance, followed by amniodrainage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and pregnancy complications, perinatal death and morbidity were assessed over the last five years with follow up of survivors. RESULTS: Endoscopic laser was carried out at a median gestation of 21 weeks. The total number of surviving infants was 144 (55%) and there was at least one survivor in 97 cases (73%). At a minimum age of one year neurological handicap was suspected in six survivors (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this multicentre study are similar to those in our original report on the first 45 cases. In comparison with serial amniodrainage, the survival rate may be similar, but the handicap rate in survivors appears much lower. This study stresses the need for a prospective study comparing these two techniques.

Endoscopy↗

Pre-term pre-labour amniorrhexis.

In pregnancies complicated by pre-term pre-labour aminorrhexis, there is a risk of intra-uterine infection, which is associated with maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The causes of neonatal death in pregnancies with aminorrhexis are prematurity, pulmonary hypoplasia and sepsis. In the management of pregnancies with pre-term pre-labour amniorrhexis, it is essential to distinguish between those with and without intra-uterine infection. If there is no infection at presentation, it is unlikely that this will develop, and in such cases there is no benefit from hospitalization, bed rest, prophylactic tocolytics or antibiotics. The group with evidence of intra-uterine infection go into spontaneous labour within a few days of amniorrhexis; in this group, the main determinant for the appropriate management is the gestational age at amniorrhexis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗