Dental microwear studies often analyze casts rather than original surfaces, although the information loss associated with reproduction is rarely considered. To investigate the sensitivity of high magnification (150x) microwear analysis to common surface replication materials and methods, we compared areal surface texture parameters (ISO 25178-2) and traditional microwear variables (pits and scratches) generated from teeth and casts of rat molars exposed to experimental diets involving hard and soft foods in which abrasive materials had been added. Although the data from the original and replicated surfaces were correlated, many significant differences were found between the resulting data of the casts and original teeth. Both areal surface texture parameters and traditional microwear variables showed diminished ability to discriminate between the eight diet treatments when casts were analyzed. When areal surface texture parameters and traditional microwear variables were combined into a single discriminant function analysis, the cast data and original data produced the most similar results. Microwear researchers tend to favor either texture analysis or traditional microwear methods, better results may be generated by combining them. Although surface textures were not accurately reproduced by the casts, they retained sufficient information to discriminate between microwear of the experimental diets to a degree similar to the original teeth.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence has shown benefits with the use of furosemide for patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in the postpartum period. We compared outcomes of patients diagnosed with HDP who received a standard protocol of postpartum furosemide versus those who had routine postpartum care. METHODS: In February 2022, a standardized, multidisciplinary postpartum furosemide protocol was instituted for patients with HDP. Exclusion criteria included hypokalemia, receiving concomitant diuretics, creatinine greater than 1.2 mg/dL, stenotic valvular cardiac disease, hemodynamic instability, or body mass index less than 18. We compared patients prior to routine furosemide use (June 2020 to January 2022) to patients treated under the protocol (February 2022 to July 2022). Outcomes included hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 139 or diastolic BP greater than 89 at 6–14 days postpartum, need for additional antihypertensive medications, readmissions, and show-rate for postpartum outpatient visits. Nonparametric tests were used to compare outcomes between the groups. Study was exempt from the IRB. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients were identified who met inclusion criteria. 80 patients met criteria prior to protocol implementation, and 49 patients met criteria after implementation. The furosemide group had a significant reduction in hypertension at 6–14 days postpartum (22.86% versus 55.26%, odds ratio 0.24, 95% CI 0.09–0.66) compared to the group who did not receive furosemide. No adverse events were noted in the furosemide group. CONCLUSION: Administration of a short course of furosemide to postpartum patients with HDP appears to improve BP recovery in the days immediately after delivery. Further studies examining hemodynamic changes after furosemide use are needed.

INTRODUCTION:Recent studies identified an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in women who have one abnormal value on the 3-hour 100-g glucose tolerance test (GTT) compared to women without gestational diabetes (GDM). Limited data are available on the benefit of diabetic intervention with these patients. We examined outcomes of pregnancies diagnosed and managed with GDM based on one abnormal value compared to those receiving routine care.METHODS:We performed a retrospective cohort study of all women with one abnormal value, comparing outcomes for those patients who received routine prenatal care (January 2016 to February 2018) versus those treated for gestational diabetes (March 2018 to July 2021). The primary outcome was birth weight greater than 4,000 g. Secondary outcomes included large for gestational age and cesarean delivery secondary to labor dystocia. Nonparametric tests were used to compare outcomes between groups. Study was IRB exempt.RESULTS:One hundred twenty-six women had one abnormal value on the 3-hour GTT. 76 (55.88%) were diagnosed with GDM and managed accordingly, while 50 (36.76%) were followed with routine care. Of the women diagnosed with GDM, 27 (35.52%) required pharmacologic treatment. Diagnosis of GDM and intervention were associated with a significant reduction in birth weight greater than 4,000 g (5.26% versus 20%, odds ratio 0.22, 95% CI 0.07–0.75). There were no significant differences for secondary outcomes.CONCLUSION:Pregnancies with one abnormal value on 3-hour GTT who received diabetic intervention were less likely to have birth weights greater than 4,000 g. Although further studies with larger cohorts are needed, this supports the use of one abnormal value for the diagnosis of GDM.

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