Lashen H, Fear K, Sturdee DW Obesity is associated with increased risk of first trimester and recurrent miscarriage: matched case-control study. Hum Reprod. 2004 Jul;19(7):1644-6. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh277. Epub 2004 May 13.
Pasko DN, Wood SL, Jenkins SM, Owen J, Harper LM Completion and Sensitivity of the Second-Trimester Fetal Anatomic Survey in Obese Gravidas. J Ultrasound Med. 2016 Nov;35(11):2449-2457. doi: 10.7863/ultra.15.11057. Epub 2016 Oct 3.
Racusin D, Stevens B, Campbell G, Aagaard KM Obesity and the risk and detection of fetal malformations. Semin Perinatol. 2012 Jun;36(3):213-21. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2012.05.001.
Stothard KJ, Tennant PW, Bell R, Rankin J Maternal overweight and obesity and the risk of congenital anomalies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2009 Feb 11;301(6):636-50. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.113.
Thornburg LL, Miles K, Ho M, Pressman EK Fetal anatomic evaluation in the overweight and obese gravida. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jun;33(6):670-5. doi: 10.1002/uog.6401.
Weichert J, Hartge DR Obstetrical sonography in obese women: a review. J Clin Ultrasound. 2011 May;39(4):209-16. doi: 10.1002/jcu.20767. Epub 2010 Dec 7.
Pannus Retraction for Ultrasound Evaluation of the Obese Gravida: A Pilot Study
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.