Do men make informed decisions about prostate cancer screening? Baseline results from the "take the wheel" trial.

Background: Baseline data from a randomized trial in 12 worksites were analyzed. Men aged 45+ (n = 812) completed surveys documenting screening history, screening preferences and decisions, CaP knowledge, decision self-efficacy, and decisional consistency. Psychosocial and demographic correlates of IDM were also assessed.

A computer-tailored intervention to promote informed decision making for prostate cancer screening among African American men.

African American men experience a disproportionate burden of prostate cancer (CaP) morbidity and mortality. National screening guidelines advise men to make individualized screening decisions through a process termed informed decision making (IDM). In this pilot study, a computer-tailored decision-aid designed to promote IDM was evaluated using a pre-/posttest design.

Stage of adoption of the human papillomavirus vaccine among college women.

Background: Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical and other cancers. A vaccine that protects against HPV types responsible for 70% of cervical cancers is available to females ages 9-26.

Objective: To examine correlates of stage of vaccine adoption among women ages 18-22.

Breast size and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Elevated waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), both traditional measures of obesity, are accepted risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Girls who are obese experience earlier onset of puberty and possibly greater breast development. We sought to evaluate whether a woman's breast size in late adolescence is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adulthood.

Diet and breast cancer: a review of the prospective observational studies.

The role of diet for the risk of breast cancer is of great interest as a potentially modifiable risk factor. The evidence from prospective observational studies was reviewed and summarized on selected dietary factors, gene-diet interactions, and breast cancer incidence. Dietary factors were considered that, based on their nutritional constituents, are of particular interest in the context of breast cancer: fat intake, biomarkers of fat intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene), serum antioxidants, carbohydrate intake, glycemic index and glycemic load, dairy consumption (including vitamin D), consumption of soy products and isoflavones, green tea, heterocyclic amines, and adolescent diet.

Regret following female sterilization at a young age: a systematic review.

Women who undergo sterilization may later regret this decision. This systematic review examines whether age at sterilization is associated with poststerilization regret. Using MEDLINE and EMBASE, we identified 19 articles that examined associations between women's age at sterilization and later regret, requests for sterilization reversal and undergoing sterilization reversal or requesting in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

Use of combined oral contraceptives among women with migraine and nonmigrainous headaches: a systematic review.

This systematic review examines evidence evaluating whether women with headaches who use combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have a greater risk of stroke than women with headaches who do not use COCs. We searched MEDLINE for articles published from 1966 through March 2005 relevant to headaches and COC use as risk factors for stroke. Of the 79 articles identified, nine met our selection criteria (eight reports of six observational studies plus one meta-analysis).

Combined oral contraceptive use among women with hypertension: a systematic review.

Women with hypertension are at increased risk for cardiovascular events. Combined oral contraceptive (COC) use, even among low-dose users, has been associated with a small excess risk for cardiovascular events among healthy women. In this systematic review, we examined cardiovascular risks among COC users with hypertension.

Does use of hormonal contraceptives among women with thrombogenic mutations increase their risk of venous thromboembolism? A systematic review.

Because use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) confers some risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), there is concern that this effect may be greater among women with thrombogenic mutations. We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for all articles published from January 1966 through September 2004 for evidence relevant to hormonal contraception and thrombogenic mutations. Of 301 articles identified by the search strategy, 16 evaluated COCs, and no studies were found for other hormonal methods.

Hormonal contraceptive use and risk of sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review.

Previous research has suggested that hormonal contraceptive users, compared with nonusers, may be at increased risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for all articles from January 1966 through February 2005 for evidence relevant to all hormonal contraceptives and STIs (including cervical chlamydial and gonococcal infection, human papillomavirus, trichomoniasis, herpes and syphilis). We used standard abstract forms and grading systems to summarize and assess the quality of 83 identified studies.

Does insertion and use of an intrauterine device increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease among women with sexually transmitted infection? A systematic review.

Concerns exist as to whether the insertion of copper and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs) increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) among women with sexually transmitted infection (STI). We searched the MEDLINE database for all articles published between January 1966 and March 2005 that included evidence relevant to IUDs and STIs and PID. None of the studies that examined women with STIs compared the risk of PID between those with insertion or use of an IUD and those who had not received an IUD.

Medical eligibility criteria for new contraceptive methods: combined hormonal patch, combined hormonal vaginal ring and the etonogestrel implant.

To review evidence on the combined hormonal patch, combined hormonal vaginal ring and the etonogestrel implant, with a focus on safety and effectiveness of use among women with special health conditions, we searched MEDLINE, Pre-MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library for reports published from 1980 through March 2005. Articles eligible for review included 11 on the hormonal patch, nine on the hormonal ring, and 11 on the etonogestrel implant. Limited evidence suggests patch efficacy is lower among women>90 kg.

Effective use of hormonal contraceptives: Part II: Combined hormonal injectables, progestogen-only injectables and contraceptive implants.

Our objective in this systematic review was to evaluate evidence regarding controversial issues in the clinical management of women using injectable and implantable contraceptives. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for reports of primary research, published from 1966 through April 2005 in peer-reviewed journals, related to the initiation of combined or progestogen-only injectables and contraceptive implants, the effects of late contraceptive injections or the duration of levonorgestrel implant effectiveness. Results of the studies we reviewed showed that initiating injectable and implantable contraceptives through day 7 of the menstrual cycle suppresses follicular activity.

Effective use of hormonal contraceptives: Part I: Combined oral contraceptive pills.

This systematic review examines evidence regarding when during the menstrual cycle a woman can initiate combined oral contraceptive (COC) use and what can be done if a woman misses COCs. We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for articles published from 1966 to March 2005 related to COC initiation and to the effects of late or missed COCs. We identified 11 studies related to COC initiation and 25 studies related to the effects of missed pills.

Keeping up with evidence a new system for WHO's evidence-based family planning guidance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is responsible for providing evidence-based family planning guidance for use worldwide. WHO currently has two such guidelines, Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use and Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, which are widely used globally and often incorporated into national family planning standards and guidelines. To ensure that these guidelines remain up-to-date, WHO, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Information and Knowledge for Optimal Health (INFO) Project at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Communication Programs, has developed the Continuous Identification of Research Evidence (CIRE) system to identify, synthesize, and evaluate new scientific evidence as it becomes available.