Reported Barriers to Hepatitis C Treatment among Pregnant and Early-Parenting Mothers Undergoing Substance Use Disorder Treatment in One U.S. State.

Nationwide, the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has risen in recent years. At least 90% of infected persons must be treated to achieve global elimination targets. The current study aimed to explore barriers to, and facilitators of, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) HCV treatment uptake amongst pregnant and early-parenting women undergoing comprehensive substance use treatment.

Care-by-parent model as a tool for reduction of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in neonates exposed to buprenorphine maintenance therapy in-utero.

To determine if a structured care-by-parent (CBP) protocol is associated with a reduction in diagnosis of treatment-requiring Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). We performed a pilot retrospective, case control study of pregnant women enrolled in a comprehensive prenatal care program for opioid-dependent patients during which they received buprenorphine for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Patients who participated in the CBP program actively roomed-in with their infants even after maternal hospital discharge while infants continued to be monitored for development of treatment-requiring NOWS.

Comparison of Serum and Cervical Cytokine Levels throughout Pregnancy between Preterm and Term Births.

 To assess differences in cytokine levels in cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) and serum across trimesters between women with preterm births (PTBs) and full-term births.  This multicenter study enrolled 302 women with a singleton gestation. CVF and serum cytokines, interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, were measured.

Buprenorphine for Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy: Relationship to Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome.

 To examine the relationship between antepartum buprenorphine dose for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of opioid use disorder (OUD) and incident neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).  We performed a prospective cohort study of pregnant women with a singleton gestation diagnosed with OUD and receiving buprenorphine for MAT at a tertiary care academic institution from July 2015 to January 2017. We divided the study cohort into two groups-pregnancies with versus without NOWS.

Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy with Severe Elevation of Bile Acids in the Setting of Acute Hepatitis C Infection.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a complication of pregnancy resulting in elevation of serum bile acid levels. ICP is often associated with underlying liver disease, including hepatitis C. Bile acids in relationship to the acute infection of hepatitis C virus have not yet been delineated in the literature.

Biocompatibility of a sonicated silk gel for cervical injection during pregnancy: in vivo and in vitro study.

Objective: To evaluate the biocompatibility of silk gel for cervical injection.

Study Design: Silk gel was injected into the cervix of pregnant rats on day 13 (n = 11) and harvested at day 17. Histology of silk gel was compared with suture controls.

Cervical mucus properties stratify risk for preterm birth.

Background: Ascending infection from the colonized vagina to the normally sterile intrauterine cavity is a well-documented cause of preterm birth. The primary physical barrier to microbial ascension is the cervical canal, which is filled with a dense and protective mucus plug. Despite its central role in separating the vaginal from the intrauterine tract, the barrier properties of cervical mucus have not been studied in preterm birth.

Neurotensin and CRH interactions augment human mast cell activation.

Stress affects immunity, but the mechanism is not known. Neurotensin (NT) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are secreted under stress in various tissues, and have immunomodulatory actions. We had previously shown that NT augments the ability of CRH to increase mast cell-dependent skin vascular permeability in rodents.

Group B Streptococcus prophylaxis in patients who report a penicillin allergy: a follow-up study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare adherence to the 2002 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for the prevention of perinatal group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease in patients who are allergic to penicillin during the years 2004-2006 and 2008.

Study Design: Previous data from our institution revealed suboptimal adherence to the 2002 CDC guidelines for GBS prophylaxis among women who are allergic to penicillin. These data caused the hospital to implement a series of interventions.

Current practice of thromboprophylaxis in the burn population: a survey study of 84 US burn centers.

While there is limited prospective data on the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the burn population, there are no prospective studies on the efficacy and safety of VTE prophylaxis in these patients. Despite lack of such data, we hypothesized that most burn centers practice some form of prophylaxis. Eighty-four US burn centers were contacted regarding their modality of VTE prophylaxis, if any.