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BACKGROUND Induction of labour involves stimulating uterine contractions artificially to promote the onset of labour. Selleck Pemetrexed There are several pharmacological, surgical and mechanical methods used to induce labour. Membrane sweeping is a mechanical technique whereby a clinician inserts one or two fingers into the cervix and using a continuous circular sweeping motion detaches the inferior pole of the membranes from the lower uterine segment. This produces hormones that encourage effacement and dilatation potentially promoting labour. This review is an update to a review first published in 2005. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects and safety of membrane sweeping for induction of labour in women at or near term (≥ 36 weeks’ gestation). SEARCH METHODS We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth’s Trials Register (25 February 2019), ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (25 February 2019), and reference lists of retrieved studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised and quasi-randoing prostaglandins, although more research should be undertaken in this area. AUTHORS’ CONCLUSIONS Membrane sweeping may be effective in achieving a spontaneous onset of labour, but the evidence for this was of low certainty. When compared to expectant management, it potentially reduces the incidence of formal induction of labour. Questions remain as to whether there is an optimal number of membrane sweeps and timings and gestation of these to facilitate induction of labour. Copyright © 2020 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.The majority of lymph generated in the body is returned to the blood circulation via the lymphovenous junction (LVJ) of the thoracic duct (TD). A lymphovenous valve (LVV) is thought to guard this junction by regulating the flow of lymph to the veins and preventing blood from entering the lymphatic system. Despite these important functions, the morphology and mechanism of this valve remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the LVV of the TD. To do this, the TD and the great veins of the left side of the neck were harvested from 16 human cadavers. The LVJs from 12 cadavers were successfully identified and examined macroscopically, microscopically, and using microcomputed tomography. In many specimens, the TD branched before entering the veins. Thus, from 12 cadavers, 21 LVJs were examined. Valves were present at 71% of LVJs (15/21) and were absent in the remainder. The LVV, when present, was typically a bicuspid semilunar valve, although the relative size and position of its cusps were variable. Microscopically, the valve cusps comprised luminal extensions of endothelium with a thin core of collagenous extracellular matrix. This study clearly demonstrated the morphology of the human LVV. This valve may prevent blood from entering the lymphatic system, but its variability and frequent absence calls into question its utility. Further structural and functional studies are required to better define the role of the LVV in health and disease. © 2020 Anatomical Society.BACKGROUND Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) and low-dose aspirin (ASA) have been proposed as a host modulation regimen to control chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and immunological impact of orally administered ω-3 PUFA and ASA as adjuncts to periodontal debridement for the treatment of periodontitis in patients type 2 diabetes. METHODS Seventy-five patients (n = 25/group) were randomly assigned to receive placebo and periodontal debridement (CG), ω-3 PUFA + ASA (3g of fish oil/day + 100mg ASA/day for 2 months) after periodontal debridement (Test Group [TG]1), or ω-3 PUFA + ASA (3g of fish oil/day + 100mg ASA/day for 2 months) before periodontal debridement (TG2). Periodontal parameters and GCF were collected at baseline (t0), 3 months after periodontal debridement and ω-3 PUFA + ASA or placebo for TG1 and CG (t1), after ω-3 PUFA + ASA (before periodontal debridement) for TG2 (t1), and 6 months after periodontal debridement (all groups) (t2). GCF was analyzed for cytokine levels by multiplex ELISA. RESULTS Ten patients (40%) in TG1 and 9 patients (36%) in TG2 achieved the clinical endpoint for treatment (≤4 sites with PD ≥ 5mm), as opposed to 4 (16%) in CG. There was clinical attachment gain in moderate and deep pockets for TG1. IFN-γ and IL-8 levels decreased over time for both test groups. IL-6 levels were lower for TG1. HbA1c levels reduced for TG1. CONCLUSION Adjunctive ω-3 and ASA after periodontal debridement provides clinical and immunological benefits to the treatment of periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.To determine whether inflammatory markers, derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), haemoglobin/platelet ratio (HPR) or platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are predictive for prognosis in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), we derived dNLR, HPR and PLR values for 110 AITL patients and appropriate cut-off point values to define overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). dNLR ≥ 2·2, HPR ≥ 0·4 or PLR  less then  100 were significant factors for shorter OS and PFS. On univariate analysis, these three parameters were significantly associated with worse OS and PFS. On multivariate analysis, only dNLR remained a significant, independent prognostic factor for both OS and PFS. © 2020 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.With the legendary saying of Leonardo da Vinci in the title, we suggest that Glucocorticoid Induced Leucine Zipper (GILZ) may have more promising effects against polymicrobial sepsis, than glucocorticoids (GC). Indeed, the use of GCs in sepsis remains a matter of debate. The rationale for their use in sepsis is to modulate the exaggerated inflammatory response while maintaining innate immunity. However, GC resistance and side-effects limit their therapeutic value in sepsis. Hence, there is a growing interest in understanding the mechanisms by which GCs modulate immune responses upon infection. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Ellouze et al. provide data demonstrating that deregulated expression of GILZ, a GC-induced protein, in monocytes/macrophages (M/M) recovered from septic shock patients may contribute to the pathogenesis. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that GILZ overexpression in M/M improves outcome in septic animals by limiting systemic inflammation while increasing bacterial clearance.