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Biomedical subjects

Phillip G Stubblefield

Publications and source records attributed to Phillip G Stubblefield.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Maternal hypertension as a risk factor for low birth weight infants: comparison of Haitian and African-American women.

BACKGROUND: The rate of low birth weight (LBW) of Black women is more than twice that of White women. This study explores if the rate of LBW differs between Haitian and African-American women with chronic hypertension. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of all Black women self-identified as African-American (n = 12,258) or Haitian (n = 4320) delivering a singleton infant in Massachusetts between 1996 and 2000. RESULTS: Haitian women were more likely than African-American women to have chronic hypertension (2.7% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.006), but had similar rates of preeclampsia (3.1% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.27). The LBW rate was 10% among African-American women and 8.2% among Haitian women. After adjustment for sociodemographic, medical, and prenatal care characteristics, the greatest risks for delivering a LBW infant for Haitian women were chronic hypertension (OR = 6.8; 95% CI, 4.3, 10.6) and preeclampsia (OR = 3.2; 95% CI, 2.0, 5.1). For African-American women, the greatest risks for LBW infants were a history of delivering a LBW infant (OR = 3.9; 95% CI, 2.8, 5.4) and chronic hypertension (OR = 2.9; 95% CI, 2.1, 4.0). In a combined logistic regression model including interaction terms, chronic hypertension and preeclampsia continued to be associated with the greatest risk of LBW among all women. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in maternal risk factors and rates of LBW (8.2% vs. 10%) exist between Haitian and African-American women delivering infants in Massachusetts. While chronic hypertension and preeclampsia are strong risk factors for LBW for both Haitian and African-American women, unknown factors make these disorders much more potent for Haitian women.

Adult↗

A randomized clinical trial of the addition of laminaria to misoprostol and hypertonic saline for second-trimester induction abortion.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of second-trimester induction abortion with misoprostol and hypertonic saline, with and without use of laminaria. METHOD: Fifty-eight women, between 17.5 and 22.5 weeks' gestation, were randomly assigned to receive or omit laminaria in conjunction with other procedures for induction abortion. All women received a fetocidal dose of 60 cc intra-amniotic hypertonic saline. If the woman was to receive laminaria, they were inserted next. This was followed by vaginal misoprostol 200 mug, which was repeated every 6 h. RESULT: Women with laminaria inserted before misoprostol administration had longer intervals from start of misoprostol to delivery of the fetus (induction times) than women without laminaria. Induction time was 14.4 vs. 11.4 h, respectively (p=.04, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Total misoprostol use was higher in the laminaria group, 628 mug (95% CI, 516-738) vs. 496 mug (95% CI, 419-573) (p=.05). Total analgesic use was also higher in the laminaria group, 41 mg of morphine (95% CI, 32-50) vs. 26 mg of morphine (95% CI, 18-32) (p=.02). CONCLUSION: Laminaria use, in conjunction with misoprostol and hypertonic saline, significantly prolongs induction time and increases narcotic analgesia usage.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗

Methods for induced abortion.

We describe present methods for induced abortion used in the United States. The most common procedure is first-trimester vacuum curettage. Analgesia is usually provided with a paracervical block and is not completely effective. Pretreatment with nonsteroidal analgesics and conscious sedation augment analgesia but only to a modest extent. Cervical dilation is accomplished with conventional tapered dilators, hygroscopic dilators, or misoprostol. Manual vacuum curettage is as safe and effective as the electric uterine aspirator for procedures through 10 weeks of gestation. Common complications and their management are presented. Early abortion with mifepristone/misoprostol combinations is replacing some surgical abortions. Two mifepristone/misoprostol regimens are used. The rare serious complications of medical abortion are described. Twelve percent of abortions are performed in the second trimester, the majority of these by dilation and evacuation (D&E) after laminaria dilation of the cervix. Uterine evacuation is accomplished with heavy ovum forceps augmented by 14-16 mm vacuum cannula systems. Cervical injection of dilute vasopressin reduces blood loss. Operative ultrasonography is reported to reduce perforation risk of D&E. Dilation and evacuation procedures have evolved to include intact D&E and combination methods for more advanced gestations. Vaginal misoprostol is as effective as dinoprostone for second-trimester labor-induction abortion and appears to be replacing older methods. Mifepristone/misoprostol combinations appear more effective than misoprostol alone. Uterine rupture has been reported in women with uterine scars with misoprostol abortion in the second trimester. Fetal intracardiac injection to reduce multiple pregnancies or selectively abort an anomalous twin is accepted therapy. Outcomes for the remaining pregnancy have improved with experience.

Abortion, Induced↗

Bone metabolism and the perimenopause overview, risk factors, screening, and osteoporosis preventive measures.

In summary, FDA-approved therapies for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis are all antiresorptive agents. There are no approved therapies at this time that stimulate bone formation, although one such agent (PTH) is awaiting approval. Screening perimenopausal women at risk should identify osteopenic women early in the menopause before the accelerated bone loss of estrogen deficiency causes further irreversible erosion in bone density. The National Osteoporosis Foundation advocates initiating therapy to reduce fracture risk in postmenopausal women with T scores below -2 in the absence or factors and with T scores below -1.5 if other risk factors are present. Estrogen, alendronate, residronate, and raloxifene have all been shown to reduce the incidence of radiographic vertebral fractures in women at risk. Only alendronate and residronate have been shown in large randomized trials to reduce the incidence of nonvertebral fractures including hip fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. These antiresorptive therapies provide benefits above and beyond those of calcium and vitamin D alone. There is insufficient published evidence from randomized controlled trials convincingly to support a role for soy products, androgens, calcitonin, or fluoride in prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis or reduction of fracture rates in women at risk.

Bone Density↗