Objective
Robson's Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) creates clinically relevant sub‐groups for monitoring caesarean birth rates. This study assesses whether this classification can be derived ...from routine data in Europe and uses it to analyse national caesarean rates.
Design
Observational study using routine data.
Setting
Twenty‐seven EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
Population
All births at ≥22 weeks of gestational age in 2015.
Methods
National statistical offices and medical birth registers derived numbers of caesarean births in TGCS groups.
Main outcome measures
Overall caesarean rate, prevalence and caesarean rates in each of the TGCS groups.
Results
Of 31 countries, 18 were able to provide data on the TGCS groups, with UK data available only from Northern Ireland. Caesarean birth rates ranged from 16.1 to 56.9%. Countries providing TGCS data had lower caesarean rates than countries without data (25.8% versus 32.9%, P = 0.04). Countries with higher caesarean rates tended to have higher rates in all TGCS groups. Substantial heterogeneity was observed, however, especially for groups 5 (previous caesarean section), 6, 7 (nulliparous/multiparous breech) and 10 (singleton cephalic preterm). The differences in percentages of abnormal lies, group 9, illustrate potential misclassification arising from unstandardised definitions.
Conclusions
Although further validation of data quality is needed, using TGCS in Europe provides valuable comparator and baseline data for benchmarking and surveillance. Higher caesarean rates in countries unable to construct the TGCS suggest that effective routine information systems may be an indicator of a country's investment in implementing evidence‐based caesarean policies.
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Many European countries can provide Robson's Ten‐Group Classification to improve caesarean rate comparisons.
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Many European countries can provide Robson's Ten‐Group Classification to improve caesarean rate comparisons.
Objective
To assess changes in caesarean section (CS) rates in Europe from 2015 to 2019 and utilise the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) to evaluate the contribution of different ...obstetric populations to overall CS rates and trends.
Design
Observational study utilising routine birth registry data.
Setting
A total of 28 European countries.
Population
Births at ≥22 weeks of gestation in 2015 and 2019.
Methods
Using a federated model, individual‐level data from routine sources in each country were formatted to a common data model and transformed into anonymised, aggregated data.
Main Outcome Measures
By country: overall CS rate. For TGCS groups (by country): CS rate, relative size, relative and absolute contribution to overall CS rate.
Results
Among the 28 European countries, both the CS rates (2015, 16.0%–55.9%; 2019, 16.0%–52.2%) and the trends varied (from −3.7% to +4.7%, with decreased rates in nine countries, maintained rates in seven countries (≤ ± 0.2) and with increasing rates in 12 countries). Using the TGCS (for 17 countries), in most countries labour induction increased (groups 2a and 4a), whereas multiple pregnancies (group 8) decreased. In countries with decreasing overall CS rates, CS tended to decrease across all TGCS groups, whereas in countries with increasing rates, CS tended to increase in most groups. In countries with the greatest increase in CS rates (>1%), the absolute contributions of groups 1 (nulliparous term cephalic singletons, spontaneous labour), 2a and 4a (induction of labour), 2b and 4b (prelabour CS) and 10 (preterm cephalic singletons) to the overall CS rate tended to increase.
Conclusions
The TGCS shows varying CS trends and rates among countries of Europe. Comparisons between European countries, particularly those with differing trends, could provide insight into strategies to reduce CS without clinical indication.
Abstract
Background
Stillbirth is a major public health problem, but measurement remains a challenge even in high-income countries. We compared routine stillbirth statistics in Europe reported by ...Eurostat with data from the Euro-Peristat research network.
Methods
We used data on stillbirths in 2015 from both sources for 31 European countries. Stillbirth rates per 1000 total births were analyzed by gestational age (GA) and birthweight groups. Information on termination of pregnancy at ≥22 weeks’ GA was analyzed separately.
Results
Routinely collected stillbirth rates were higher than those reported by the research network. For stillbirths with a birthweight ≥500 g, the difference between the mean rates of the countries for Eurostat and Euro-Peristat data was 22% 4.4/1000, versus 3.5/1000, mean difference 0.9 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–1.0. When using a birthweight threshold of 1000 g, this difference was smaller, 12% (2.9/1000, versus 2.5/1000, mean difference 0.4 with 95% CI 0.3–0.5), but substantial differences remained for individual countries. In Euro-Peristat, missing data on birthweight ranged from 0% to 29% (average 5.0%) and were higher than missing data for GA (0–23%, average 1.8%).
Conclusions
Routine stillbirth data for European countries in international databases are not comparable and should not be used for benchmarking or surveillance without careful verification with other sources. Recommendations for improvement include using a cut-off based on GA, excluding late terminations of pregnancy and linking multiple sources to improve the quality of national databases.
Despite the number of studies focused on sense-antisense transcription, the key question of whether such organization evolved as a regulator of gene expression or if this is only a byproduct of other ...regulatory processes has not been elucidated to date. In this study, protein-coding sense-antisense gene pairs were analyzed with a particular focus on pairs overlapping at their 5' ends. Analyses were performed in 73 human transcription start site libraries. The results of our studies showed that the overlap between genes is not a stable feature and depends on which TSSs are utilized in a given cell type. An analysis of gene expression did not confirm that overlap between genes causes downregulation of their expression. This observation contradicts earlier findings. In addition, we showed that the switch from one promoter to another, leading to genes overlap, may occur in response to changing environment of a cell or tissue. We also demonstrated that in transfected and cancerous cells genes overlap is observed more often in comparison with normal tissues. Moreover, utilization of overlapping promoters depends on particular state of a cell and, at least in some groups of genes, is not merely coincidental.
Magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 doped by different amounts of Y3+ (0, 0.1, 1, and 10%) ions were designed to obtain maximum heating efficiency in magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment. ...Single-phase formation was evident by X-ray diffraction measurements. An improved magnetization value was obtained for the Fe3O4 sample with 1% Y3+ doping. The specific absorption rate (SAR) and intrinsic loss of power (ILP) values for prepared colloids were obtained in water. The best results were estimated for Fe3O4 with 0.1% Y3+ ions (SAR = 194 W/g and ILP = 1.85 nHm2/kg for a magnetic field of 16 kA/m with the frequency of 413 kHz). The excellent biocompatibility with low cell cytotoxicity of Fe3O4:Y nanoparticles was observed. Immediately after magnetic hyperthermia treatment with Fe3O4:0.1%Y, a decrease in 4T1 cells’ viability was observed (77% for 35 μg/mL and 68% for 100 μg/mL). These results suggest that nanoparticles of Fe3O4 doped by Y3+ ions are suitable for biomedical applications, especially for hyperthermia treatment.
•Comparison of the markets and methods of ethanol production in Poland and Brazil.•Differences in terminology associated with bioethanol to be used for transport purposes in both ...countries.•Performance of the production scale and use of ethanol in both countries in years 2010–2016.•The market attractiveness (value) of transport biofuels (especially bioethanol) in Poland.•Perspective of biofuel market development in Poland and Brazil.
The objective of this paper was to compare the markets and methods of production of ethanol to be used in transport in Poland and Brazil. Differences in terminology associated with its use for transport purposes in both countries have been discussed, as well as the market-related aspects of such use, comparing, among other things, the scale of production and use in years 2010–2016 and presenting the results of research on attractiveness (value) of the market of transport biofuels (especially bioethanol) in Poland, which were compared to the perspectives of market development in Brazil.
In Brazil, the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption is at the level of 42%, making it a world leader in use of energy from RES (renewable energy sources). 18% of the energy used is sugarcane bioenergy (bioethanol). At present, most of this production is being consumed by the domestic market, where ethyl alcohol is being sold as a pure ethanol fuel or mixed with gasoline.
In Poland, the share of energy from renewable sources in end use of energy is 11.8%, and energy from liquid biofuels, including bioethanol, constitutes only 10.8% of this value. Although addition of bioethanol to gasoline available on the Polish market is acceptable, vehicles fueled with pure ethanol (like in Brazil) are not popular in Poland. The quantitative data presented indicates that the market of bioethanol in Poland, in relation to the Brazilian market of ethanol fuel, is very small. Production of this biofuel in Poland in year 2016 was almost 26 billion liters lower in comparison with Brazil. In 2007 the conventional biofuel sectors in Poland were considered to be relatively attractive components of the economy. In the case of methyl esters, the value of their production sector achieved the level of almost 68%, and of ethanol – almost 62%. The current results of research on the value of biofuel sectors in Poland are not encouraging in terms of investing in biofuels of this generation (conventional biofuels). Brazil has the longest history of success in terms of biofuels, in particular, bioethanol, however without a favorable taxation system, bioethanol is still more expensive than gasoline. According to forecasts, biodiesel production and consumption in Brazil are evolving in a linear manner, mainly due to the growing demand for fuel and the associated growth in the fleet of Brazilian vehicles and the perspective of increase of the biodiesel/diesel oil mix in the coming years.
The aim of study was to assess the joint effects of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in soil-plant system. The single and binary mixtures of nano-ZnO and nano-CuO at dose of 300 mg kg−1 were added to ...soil. The combined treatments of metal salts were applied to evaluate nano-specific effects. The bioavailable fraction of Zn/Cu was extracted with CaCl2 or DTPA from soil after 1, 7, 30 days. The plant response regarding to metal content, enzyme activity (SOD, POD, CAT) and relative gene expression (Zn/Cu SOD, CAT, APX, GPX) to ENPs mixtures was determined. The extractable metal concentrations in soil under co-exposure of ENPs were lower than under single treatments. The opposite combined effect was noticed for metal salts. After 7 days, lower Zn content in leaves was measured after co-exposure of ENPs than nano-ZnO, whereas in older plants the tendency was opposite. The highest Cu content in leaves was noted under co-exposure of metal salts, other treatments provided the similar Cu content level. The activity of enzymes was dependent on their type, sources of metal, duration and type of exposure. APX gene expression was only affected by ENPs. The study shed light on the interactions of ENPs in soil and plant.
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•Bioavailability and barley response to co-exposure of ZnO and CuO ENPs were tested.•Labile Zn/Cu content in soil was lower under joint than single treatment with ENPs.•Co-exposure caused different level of Zn loading in leaves than separate ENPs.•Regardless of type of ENPs exposure Cu was mostly accumulated in roots.•The enzyme activity and gene expression differ between single/joint ENPs treatment.
The recent studies indicated that the biochar (BC) may be a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as their oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur-containing derivatives that are considered ...as more toxic pollutants than their parent compounds. Here, the assessment of the impact of various biochars addition (1% wt.) to soil on barley Hordeum vulgare L. growth was presented. The concentrations of bioavailable PAHs and their derivatives in biochar were determined. PAHs increased reactive oxygen species generation resulting in oxidative stress in organisms. In this study, the response of soil-grown plants was examined in terms of the activity of the antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase), lipid peroxidation, and the expression of genes related to oxidative stress. The results indicate that despite low content of a bioavailable fraction of parent compounds and their derivatives (up to 4.45 ± 0.24 ng gbiochar−1 and 0.83 ± 0.03 ng L−1, respectively) the biochemical response of plant was present, the activity of superoxide dismutase increased up to 2 times, but the activity of the other enzymes was lowered. The transcript level values support the studies on enzymatic activity. The presence of PAHs and their derivatives induced oxidative stress slightly but the plant was able to mitigate it.
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•Growth of barley in biochar-amended soil was enhanced.•Low content of bioavailable PAHs and derivatives affects plant growth.•PAHs slightly induce oxidative stress but the plant was able to mitigate it.•The activity of SOD increased; the other enzymes - lowered.•The most important enzymatic ROS scavengers in plant cells are CAT and APX.
Water deficit affects the growth as well as physiological and biochemical processes in plants. The aim of this study was to determine differences in physiological and biochemical responses to drought ...stress in two wheat cultivars—Chinese Spring (CS) and SQ1 (which are parents of a mapping population of doubled haploid lines)—and to relate these responses to final yield and agronomic traits. Drought stress was induced by withholding water for 14 days, after which plants were re-watered and maintained until harvest. Instantaneous gas exchange parameters were evaluated on the 3rd, 5th, 10th, and 14th days of seedling growth under drought. After 14 days, water content and levels of chlorophyll a+b, carotenoids, malondialdehyde, soluble carbohydrates, phenolics, salicylic acid, abscisic acid (ABA), and polyamines were measured. At final maturity, yield components (grain number and weight), biomass, straw weight, and harvest index were evaluated. Physiological and biochemical parameters of CS responded more than those of SQ1 to the 14-day drought, reflected in a greater reduction in final biomass and yield in CS. Marked biochemical differences between responses of CS and SQ1 to the drought were found for soluble carbohydrates and polyamines. These would be good candidates for testing in the mapping population for the coincidence of the genetic control of these traits and final biomass and yield.
Inorganic nanomaterials able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) are promising components for modern medical applications. Activated by near-infrared light, up-converting β-NaYF
4
doped with Er
...3+
-Yb
3+
and Tm
3+
-Yb
3+
pair ions nanoparticles (UCNPs), have a wide range of applications in biological imaging as compared to traditional reagents excited by ultra-violet or visible light. We analysed the green-red and the blue-red luminescence to explain the mechanism of the upconversion depended on the surface condition. The influence of SiO
2
coating on the cytotoxicity of the as-produced UCNPs towards HeLa cancer cells was reported. We demonstrated a possibility of a direct UCNPs application to photodynamic therapy, without need to attach additional molecules to their surface. The presence of Tm
3+
-Yb
3+
pair ions, thus ROS generation capability, renders the SiO
2
shell coated nanoparticles to become potentially useful theranostic agent.
Multicolor upconversion of SiO
2
-coated nanoparticles using for cells imaging and reactive oxygen species generation.
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