Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2024
Meta AnalysisRelationship of Lactobacillus Vaginal Microbiota Changes and the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Objective: With a global incidence of more than 10%, preterm birth (PTB) remains a significant concern. The vaginal microbiome strongly influences the well-being of the female reproductive tract. This study examines the correlation between changes in Lactobacillus vaginal microbiota and the PTB risk. ⋯ Similarly, the four individual dominant species, Lactobacillus crispatus (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.14-0.67, p = 0.003 < 0.05), Lactobacillus gasseri (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17-0.69, p = 0.003 < 0.05), Lactobacillus iners (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.49-0.93, p = 0.016 < 0.05), and Lactobacillus jensenii (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21-0.89, p = 0.024 < 0.05), were also negatively associated with the PTB risk. The risk of Lactobacillus for PTB was significant in both America (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.50-0.92) and Asia (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.09-0.47), whereas no significant risk was found in Europe (OR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.11-2.15). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the abundance of Lactobacillus and the four dominant individual species (L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. iners, and L. gasseri) were significantly and negatively associated with the PTB risk.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2024
ReviewKey Findings from Mental Health Research During the Menopause Transition for Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Women Living in the United States: A Scoping Review.
Background: Racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) women experience social and structural factors that may affect their response to mental health treatment and menopausal symptoms during the menopause transition (MT). This scoping review on mental health during the MT for REM women in the United States was conducted to characterize factors associated with mental health challenges. Materials and Methods: Five databases were searched. ⋯ Conclusion: Depression during the MT is associated with negative outcomes that may impact REM women differentially. Incorporating theoretical frameworks (e.g., intersectionality, weathering) into mental health research will reduce the likelihood that scientists mislabel race as the cause of these inequities, when racism and intersecting systems of oppression are the root causes of differential expression of mental illness among REM women during the MT. There is a need for interdisciplinary research to advance the mental health of REM women.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2024
Elevated Asprosin Levels in Breast Cancer: Insights from a Comparative Study.
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer in women. Diagnosis in the early stage is very important for cancer treatment. There is no good biomarker to diagnose BC in T1-T2 or N0 stage. ⋯ The observed higher levels of ASP in women with BC compared with healthy individuals suggest that ASP could potentially serve as a biomarker for distinguishing between the two groups. These results may contribute to our understanding of the potential role of ASP in BC detection and highlight its potential as a diagnostic marker. Further studies are required to establish whether ASP can be used to diagnose BC.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2024
Adverse Delivery and Neonatal Outcomes Among Women with Severe Maternal Morbidity in Illinois, 2018-2019.
Objective: To examine adverse delivery outcomes from 2018 to 2019 severe maternal morbidity (SMM) cases that were reviewed by facility-level review committees in Illinois (n = 666) and describe the burden of adverse delivery outcomes among demographic subgroups, SMM etiology, and whether the SMM event was potentially preventable. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive analysis of the SMM review cohort. Consistent with expert recommendations to identify SMM for hospital quality review, SMM was defined as any intensive care or critical care unit admission and/or transfusion of four or more units of packed red blood cells from conception to 42 days postpartum. ⋯ Non-Hispanic Black women with SMM were more likely to have an adverse delivery outcome compared with non-Hispanic White women with SMM (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.01-3.02). Conclusion: A greater proportion of the SMM review cohort experienced adverse delivery outcomes compared with the overall birthing population in the state. Non-Hispanic Black women with SMM were almost twice as likely to have an adverse delivery outcome compared with non-Hispanic White women.
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Purpose: Research about academic medicine women faculty has focused on comparisons of men and women or specific groups who achieved leadership. To better understand the low percentages of women in academic medicine leadership, attention should be paid to the career continuum within genders. Study findings will inform policies and programs to support women in building careers and acquiring leadership positions. ⋯ It identifies the mid-career stage as a challenging experience for both men and women. Women, especially at the associate professor rank, remain a critically dissatisfied and underresourced group that is at risk for underutilization and potentially exit from academic medicine. All ranks of women need career development and equitable policies to support their sense of belonging and career advancement.